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THE 



LAY 



OF 



THE LAST MINSTREL, 



A POEM; 


BY 


■ 



WALTER SCOTT, Esq. 



Dum relego, scripsisse pudet, quia plurima cerno, 
Me quoque, qui feci, judice, digna lini. 



THE THIRTEENTH EDITION. 



LONDON: 

PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, AND BROWN, 

PATERNOSTER-ROW ; 

AND A. CONSTABLE AND CO. AND JOHN BA.LLANTYNF. 

AND CO. EDINBURGH ; 

By James Ballantyne 6$ Co. Edinburgh. 
1812, 



r 






Ks 









& 



TO THE 
RIGHT HONOURABLE 

CHARLES, 
EARL OF DALKEITH, 

THIS 

POEM IS INSCRIBED 

BY 

THE AUTHOR. 



THE Poem, now offered to the Public, is intended to 
illustrate the customs and manners, which anciently pre- 
vailed on the Borders of England and Scotland. The 
inhabitants, living in a state partly pastoral and partly 
warlike, and combining habits of constant depredation 
with the influence of a rude spirit of chivalry, were often 
engaged in scenes, highly susceptible of poetical ornament. 
As the description of scenery and manners was more the 
object of the Author, than a combined and regular narra- 
tive, the plan of the ancient Metrical Romance was adopt- 
ed, which allows greater latitude, in this respect, than 
would be consistent with the dignity of a regular Poem, 
The same model offered other facilities, as it permits an 
occasional alteration of measure, which, in some degree, 
authorises the change of rhythm in the text. The machine- 
ry also, adopted from popular belief, would have seemed 
puerile in a Poem, which did not partake of the rudeness 
of the old Ballad, or Metrical Romance. 

For these reasons, the Poem was put into the mouth of 
an ancient Minstrel, the last of the race, who, as he is sup- 
posed to have survived the Revolution, might have caught 
somewhat of the refinement of modern poetry, without lo- 
sing the simplicity of his original model- The date of the 
Tale itself is about the middle of the sixteenth century, 
when most of the personages, actually four ished. The time 
occupied by the action is Three Nights and Three Days. 



THE 

LAY 



OF 



THE LAST MINSTREL. 



CANTO FIRST. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The way was long, the wind was cold, 
The Minstrel was infirm and old ; 
His withered cheek, and tresses gray, 
Seemed to have known a better day ; 
The harp, his sole remaining joy, 
Was carried by an orphan boy. 
The last of all the bards was he, 
Who sung of Border chivalry. 
For, well-a-day ! their date was fled, 
His tuneful brethren all were dead ; 
And he, neglected and oppressed, 
Wished to be with them, and at rest. 
No more, on prancing palfrey borne, 
He carolled, light as lark at morn •, 



12 INTRODUCTION. 

No longer courted and caressed, 

High placed in hall, a welcome guest, 

He poured, to lord and lady gay, 

The unpremeditated lay : 

Old times were changed, old manners gone ; 

A stranger filled the Stuarts' throne ; 

The bigots of the iron time 

Had called his harmless art a crime. 

A wandering Harper, scorned and poor, 

He begged his bread from door to door ; 

And tuned, to please a peasant's ear, 

The harp, a king had loved to hear. 

He passed where Newark's stately tower 
Looks out from Yarrow's birchen bower : 
The Minstrel gazed with wishful eye — 
No humbler resting-place was nigh. 
With hesitating step, at last, 
The embattled portal-arch he passed, 



INTRODUCTION. 13 

Whose ponderous grate and massy bar 
Had oft rolled back the tide of war, 
But never closed the iron door 
Against the desolate and poor. 
The Duchess* marked his weary pace, 
His timid mien, and reverend face, 
And bade her page the menials tell, 
That they should tend the old man well : 
For she had known adversity, 
Though born in such a high degree ; 
In pride of power, in beauty's bloom, 
Had wept o'er Monmouth's bloody tomb ! 

When kindness had his wants supplied, 
And the old man was gratified, 
Began to rise his minstrel pride : 



* Anne, Duchess of Buccleuch and Monmouth, representa- 
tive of the ancient lords of Buccleuch, and widow of the un- 
fortunate James, Duke of Monmouth, who was beheaded in 
1685. 



14 INTRODUCTION. 

And he began to talk anon, 

Of good Earl Francis,* dead and gone, 

And of Earl Walter, f rest him God ! 

A braver ne'er to battle rode ; 

And how full many a tale he knew, 

Of the old warriors of Buccleuch ; 

And, would the noble Duchess deign 

To listen to an old man's strain, 

Though stiff his hand, his voice though weak, 

He thought, even yet, the sooth to speak, 

That, if she loved the harp to hear, 

He could make music to her ear. 

The humble boon was soon obtained ; 
The Aged Minstrel audience gained. 
But, when he reached the room of state, 
Where she, with all her ladies, sate, 



* Francis Scott, Earl of Buccleuch, father to the Duchess, 
f Walter, Earl of Buccleuch, grandfather to the Duchess, 
and a celebrated warrior. 



INTRODUCTION. 15 

Perchance he wished his boon denied : 

For, when to tune his harp he tried, 

His trembling hand had lost the ease, 

Which marks security to please ; 

And scenes, long past, of joy and pain, 

Came wildering o'er his aged brain — 

He tried to tune his harp in vain. 

The pitying Duchess praised its chime, 

And gave him heart, and gave him time, 

Till every string's according glee 

Was blended into harmony. 

And then, he said, he would full fain 

He could recal an ancient strain, 

He never thought to sing again. 

It was not framed for village churls, 

But for high dames and mighty earls ; 

He had played it to King Charles the Good, 

When he kept court in Holyrood ; 

And much he wished, yet feared, to try 

The long-forgotten melody. 



16 INTRODUCTION. 

Amid the strings his fingers strayed, 
And an uncertain warbling made, 
And oft he shook his hoary head. 
But when he caught the measure wild, 
The old man raised his face, and smiled ; 
And lightened up his faded eye, 
With all a poet's ecstacy ! 
In varying cadence, soft or strong, 
He swept the sounding chords along : 
The present scene, the future lot, 
His toils, his wants, were all forgot : 
Cold diffidence and age's frost, 
In the full tide of song were lost j 
Each blank, in faithless memory void, 
The poet's glowing thought supplied ; 
And, while his harp responsive rung, 
'Twas thus the Latest Minstrel sung. 
10 



THE 



LAY OF THE LAST MINSTREL. 

CANTO FIRST. 



I 

The feast was over in Branksome tower, 

And the Ladye had gone to her secret bower ; 

Her bower, that was guarded by word and by spell, 

Deadly to hear, and deadly to tell — 

Jesu Maria, shield us well ! 

No living wight, save the Ladye alone, 

Had dared to cross the threshold stone. 



18 THE LAY OF CANTO I. 

II. 

The tables were drawn,* it was idlesse all; 

Knight, and page, and household squire, 
Loitered through the lofty hall, 

Or crowded round the ample fire. 
The stag-hounds, weary with the chace, 

Lay stretched upon the rushy floor, 
And urged, in dreams, the forest-race, 

From Teviot-stone to Eskdale-moor. 

III. 

Nine-and-twenty knights of fame 

Hung their shields in Branksome Hall ; 
Nine-and-twenty squires of name 

Brought them their steeds from bower to stall ; 
Nine-and-twenty yeomen tall 
Waited, duteous, on them all : 
They were all knights of mettle true, 
Kinsmen to the bold Buccleuch. 



CANTO I. THE LAST MINSTREL. 19 

IV. 

Ten of them were sheathed in steel, 
With belted sword, and spur on heel : 
They quitted not their harness bright, 
Neither by day, nor yet by night : 

They lay down to rest, 

With corslet laced, 
Pillowed on buckler cold and hard ; 

They carved at the meal 

With gloves of steel, 
And they drank the red wine through the helmet 
barred. 

V. 

Ten squires, ten yeomen, mail-clad men. 
Waited the beck of the warders ten ; 
Thirty steeds, both fleet and wight, 
Stood saddled in stable day and night, 
Barbed with frontlet of steel, I trow, 
And with Jedwood-axe at saddle-bow ; 



20 THE LAY OF CANTO I, 

A hundred more fed free in stall : — 
Such was the custom of Branksome Hall. 

VI. 

Why do these steeds stand ready dight ? 
Why watch these warriors, armed, by night ? — 
They watch, to hear the blood-hound baying ; 
They watch, to hear the war-horn braying ; 
To see St George's red cross streaming, 
To see the midnight beacon gleaming ; 

They watch, against Southern force and guile, 
Lest Scroop, or Howard, or Percy's powers, 
Threaten Branksome's lordly towers, 

From Warkworth, or Naworth,or merry Carlisle. 

VII. 

Such is the custom of Branksome-Hall. — 

Many a valiant knight is here ; 
But he, the chieftain of them all, 
His sword hangs rusting on the wall, 

Beside his broken spear. 



CANTO I. THE LAST MINSTREL. 21 

Bards long shall tell, 
How Lord Walter fell ! 
When startled burghers fled, afar, 
The furies of the Border war ; 
When the streets of high Dnnedin 
Saw lances gleam, and falchions redden, 
And heard the slogan's # deadly yell — 
Then the chief of Branksome fell. 

VIII 

Can piety the discord heal, 

Or staunch the death-feud's enmity ? 
Can Christian lore, can patriot zeal, 

Can love of blessed charity ? 
No I vainly to each holy shrine, 

In mutual pilgrimage they drew ; 
Implored, in vain, the grace divine 

For chiefs, their own red falchions slew : 

* The war-cry, or gathering word, of a Border clan. 



22 THE LAY OF CANTO I. 

While Cessford owns the rule of Car, 
While Ettrick boasts the line of Scott, 

The slaughtered chiefs, the mortal jar, 

The havoc of the feudal war, 
Shall never, never be forgot ! 

IX. 

In sorrow, o'er Lord Walter's bier 

The warlike foresters had bent ; 
And many a flower, and many a tear, 

Old Teviot's maids and matrons lent : 
But o'er her warrior's bloody bier 
The Ladye dropped nor flower nor tear ! 

Vengeance, deep-brooding o'er the slain, 

Had locked the source of softer woe ; 
And burning pride, and high disdain, 

Forbade the rising tear to flow ; 
Until, amid his sorrowing clan, 

Her son lisped from the nurse's knee— 
w And, if I live to be a man, 

My father's death revenged shall be !" 



CANTO I. THE LAST MINSTREL. 23 

Then fast the mother's tears did seek 
To dew the infant's kindling cheek. 

X. 

All loose her negligent attire, 

All loose her golden hair, 
Hung Margaret o'er her slaughtered sire, 

And wept in wild despair. 
But not alone the bitter tear 

Had filial grief supplied ; 
For hopeless, love, and anxious fear, 

Had lent their mingled tide : 
Nor in her mother's altered eye 
Dared she to look for sympathy. 

Her lover, 'gainst her father's clan, 
With Car in arms had stood, 

When Mathouse-burn to Melrose ran, 
All purple with their blood ; 

And well she knew her mother dread, 

Before Lord Cranstoun she should wed, 

Would see her on her dying bed. 



24 THE LAY OP CANTO I. 

XL 

Of noble race the Ladye came ; 
Her father was a clerk of fame, 

Of Bethune's line of Picardie : 
He learned the art, that none may name, 

In Padua, far beyond the sea. 
Men said, he changed his mortal frame 

By feat of magic mystery ; 
For when, in studious mood, he paced 

St Andrew's cloistered hall, 
His form no darkening shadow traced 

Upon the sunny wall ! 

XII. 

And of his skill, as bards avow, 

He taught that Ladye fair, 
Till to her bidding she could bow 

The viewless forms of air. 
And now she sits in secret bower, 
In old Lord David's western tower, 



CANTO I. THE LAST MINSTREL. 25 

And listens to a heavy sound, 

That moans the mossy turrets round. 

Is it the roar of Teviot's tide, 

That chafes against the scaur's* red side ? 

Is it the wind, that swings the oaks ? 

Is it the echo from the rocks ? 

What may it be, the heavy sound, 

That moans old Branksome's turrets round ? 

XIII. 

At the sullen, moaning sound, 

The ban-dogs bay and howl ; 
And, from the turrets round, 

Loud whoops the startled owl. 
In the hall, both squire and knight 

Swore that a storm was near, 
And looked forth to view the night; 

But the night was still and clear ! 

* Scaur, a precipitous bank of earth. 



26 THE LAY OF CANTO I. 

XIV. 

From the sound of Teviot's tide, 
Chafing with the mountain's side, 
From the groan of the wind-swung oak, 
From the sullen echo of the rock, 
From the voice of the coming storm, 

The Ladye knew it well ! 
It was the Spirit of the Flood that spoke, 

And he called on the Spirit of the Fell. 

XV. 
« Sleep'st thou, brother ?" 

fountain &piviu 

— " Brother, nay — 
" On my hills the mountain-beams play. 
From Craik-cross to Skelf hill-pen, 
By every rill, in every glen, 
Merry elves their morrice pacing, 

To aerial minstrelsy, 
Emerald rings on brown heath tracing, 
Trip it deft and merrily. 



CANTO I. THE LAST MINSTREL. 27 

Up, and mark their nimble feet ! 
Up, and list their music sweet!" 

XVI. 
IRttJtr spirit* 

w Tears of an imprisoned maiden 

Mix with my polluted stream ; 
Margaret of Branksome, sorrow-laden, 

Mourns beneath the moon's pale beam. 
Tell me, thou, who view'st the stars, 
When shall cease these feudal jars ? 
What shall be the maiden's fate ? 
Who shall be the maiden's mate ?" 

XVII. 

fountain &piviu 

t( Arthur's slow wain his course doth roll, 
In utter darkness round the pole ; 
The Northern Bear lowers black and grim ; 
Orion's studded belt is dim : 



28 THE LAY OF CANTO I. 

Twinkling faint, and distant far, 
Shimmers through mist each planet star ; 

111 may I read their high decree ! 
But no kind influence deign they shower 
On Teviot's tide, and Branksome's tower, 

Till pride be quelled, and love be free." 

XVIII. 

The unearthly voices ceast, 

And the heavy sound was still ; 
It died on the river's breast, 

It died on the side of the hill. — 
But round Lord David's tower 

The sound still floated near ; 
For it rung in the Ladye's bower, 

And it rung in the Ladye's ear. 
She raised her stately head, 

And her heart throbbed high with pride : — 
a Your mountains shall bend, 
And your streams ascend, 

Ere Margaret be our foeman's bride V 



CANTO I. THE LAST MINSTREL. 29 

XIX. 

The Ladye sought the lofty hall, 

Where many a bold retainer lay, 
And, with jocund din, among them all, 

Her son pursued his infant play. 
A fancied moss-trooper, the boy 

The truncheon of a spear bestrode, 
And round the hall, right merrily, 

In mimic foray* rode. 
Even bearded knights, in arms grown old, 

Share in his frolic gambols bore, 
Albeit their hearts, of rugged mould, 

Were stubborn as the steel they wore. 
For the gray warriors prophesied, 

How the brave boy, in future war, 
Should tame the Unicorn's pride, 

Exalt the Crescent and the Star.f 



* Foray, a predatory inroad. 

t Alluding to the armorial bearings of the Scots and Cars, 



SO THE LAY OF CANTO I. 

c 

XX. 

The Ladye forgot her purpose high, 

One moment — and no more; 
One moment gazed with a mother's eye. 

As she paused at the arched door : 
Then, from amid the armed train, 
She called to her William of Deloraine. 

XXL 

A stark moss-trooping Scott was he, 
As e'er couched Border lance by knee^: 
Through Solway sands, through Tarras moss, 
Blindfold, he knew the paths to cross ; 
By wily turns, by desperate bounds, 
Had baffled Percy's best blood-hounds ; 
In Eske, or Liddel, fords were none, 
But he would ride them, one by one; 
Alike to him was time or tide, 
December's snow, or July's pride ; 
Alike to him was tide or time, 
Moonless midnight, or matin prime z 



CANTO I. THE LAST MINSTREL. 31 

Steady of heart and stout of hand, 

As ever drove prey from Cumberland ; 

Five times outlawed had he been, 

By England's king, and Scotland's queen. 

XXII. 

" Sir William of Deloraine, good at need, 
Mount thee on the wightest steed ; 
Spare not to spur, nor stint to ride, 
Until thou come to fair Tweedside ; 
And in Melrose's holy pile 
Seek thou the Monk of St Mary's aisle. 

Greet the Father well from me ; 
Say that the fated hour is come, 

And to-night he shall watch with thee, 
To win the treasure of the tomb : 
For this will be St Michael's night, 
And, though stars be dim, the moon is bright ; 
And the Cross, of bloody red, 
Will point to the grave of the mighty dead. 



sa THE LAY OF CANTO I. 

XXIII. 

" What he gives thee, see thou keep; 
Stay not thou for food or sleep 
Be it scroll, or be it book, 
Into it, knight, thou must not look ; 
If thou readest, thou art lorn ! 
Better had'st thou ne'er been born." 

XXIV. 

" O swiftly can speed my dapple-gray steed, 

Which drinks of the Teviot clear ; 
Ere break of day," the warrior 'gan say, 

" Again will I be here : 
And safer by none may thy errand be done, 

Than, noble dame, by me ; 
Letter nor line know I never a one, 

Wer't my neck- verse at Hairibee."* 



* Hairibee, the place of executing the border marauders, at 
Carlisle. The neck-verse is the beginning of the 51st psalm, 
Miserere mei, &c, anciently read by criminals claiming the be- 
nefit of clergy. 



CANTO I. THE LAST MINSTREL, 33 

XXV. 
Soon in his saddle sate he fast, 
And soon the steep descent he past, 
Soon crossed the sounding barbican, * 
And soon the Teviot side he won. 
Eastward the wooded path he rode, 
Green hazels o'er his basnet nod ; 
He passed the Peel f of Goldiland, 
And crossed old Borthwick's roaring strand ; 
Dimly he viewed the Moat-hill's mound, 
Where Druid shades still flitted round : 
In Hawick twinkled many a light ; 
Behind him soon they set in night ; 
And soon he spurred his courser keen, 
Beneath the tower of Hazeldean. 

XXVI. 

The clattering hoofs the watchmen mark ; — 
" Stand, ho ! thou courier of the dark." 

* Barbican, the defence of the outer gate of a feudal castle, 
j Peel, a Border tower. 

C 



34 THE LAY OF CANTO I. 

" For Branksome, ho !" the knight rejoined, 
And left the friendly tower behind. 
He turned him now from Teviotside, 

And, guided by the tinkling rill, 
Northward the dark ascent did ride, 

And gained the moor at Horseliehill ; 
Broad on the left before him lay, 
For many a mile, the Roman way.* 

XXVII* 

A moment now he slacked his speed, 
A moment breathed his panting steed; 
Drew saddle-girth and corslet-band, 
And loosened in the sheath his brand. 
On Minto-crags the moon-beams glint, 
Where Barnhill hewed his bed of flint ; 
Who flung his outlawed limbs to rest, 
Where falcons hang their giddy nest, 
Mid cliffs, from whence his eagle eye 
For many a league his prey could spy ; 

* An ancient Roman road, crossing through part of Rox- 
burghshire. 



CANTO I. THE LAST MINSTREL. 35 

Cliffs, doubling, on their echoes borne, 
The terrors of the robber's horn ; 
Cliffs, which, for many a later year, 
The warbling Doric reed shall hear, 
When some sad swain shall teach the grove, 
Ambition is no cure for love ! 

XXVIIL 

Unchallenged, thence past Deloraine 
To ancient Riddel's fair domain, 

Where Aill, from mountains freed, 
Down from the lakes did raving come ; 
Each wave was crested with tawny foam, 

Like the mane of a chesnut steed. 
In vain ! no torrent, deep or broad, 
Might bar the bold moss-trooper's road. 

XXIX. 

At the first plunge the horse sunk low, 
And the water broke o'er the saddle-bow ; 



36 THE LAY OF CANTO I. 

Above the foaming tide, I ween, 

Scarce half the charger's neck was seen; 

For he was barded * from counter to tail, 

And the rider was armed complete in mail; 

Never heavier man and horse 

Stemmed a midnight torrent's force. 

The warrior's very plume, I say, 

Was daggled by the dashing spray ; 

Yet, through good heart, and our Ladye's grace, 

At length he gained the landing place. 

XXX. 

Now Bowden Moor the march-man won, 
And sternly shook his plumed head, 

As glanced his eye o'er Halidon; f 
For on his soul the slaughter red 

* Barded, or barbed, — applied to a horse accoutered with 
defensive armour. 
f Halido?i-Hill, on which the battle of Melrose was fought. 



eANTO I. THE LAST MINSTREL. 37 

Of that unhallowed morn arose, 
When first the Scott and Car were foes ; 
When royal James beheld the fray, 
Prize to the victor of the day; 
When Home and Douglas, in the van, 
Bore down Buccleuch's retiring clan, 
Till gallant Cessford's heart-blood dear 
Reeked on dark Elliot's Border spear. 

XXXI. 

In bitter mood he spurred fast, 
And soon the hated heath was past ; 
And far beneath, in lustre wan, 
Old Melros , rose, and fair Tweed ran : 
Like some tall rock, with lichens gray, 
Seemed, dimly huge, the dark Abbaye. 
When Hawick he passed, had curfew rung, 
Now midnight lauds * were in Melrose sung. 

* Laudst the midnight service of the Catholic church. 



38 THE LAY OF CANTO I. 

The sound, upon the fitful gale, 

In solemn wise did rise and fail, 

Like that wild harp, whose magic tone 

Is wakened by the winds alone. 

But when Melrose he reached, 'twas silence all; 

He meetly stabled his steed in stall, 

And sought the convent's lonely wall. 



Here paused the harp : and with its swell 
The Master's fire and courage fell : 
Dejectedly, and low, he bowed, 
And, gazing timid on the crowd, 
He seemed to seek, in every eye, 
If they approved his minstrelsy ; 
And, diffident of present praise, 
Somewhat he spoke of former days, 
And how old age, and wandering long. 
Had done his hand and harp some wrong* 



CANTO I. THE LAST MINSTREL. 39 

The Duchess, and her daughters fair. 
And every gentle ladye there, 
Each after each, in due degree, 
Gave praises to his melody ; 
His hand was true, his voice was clear, 
And much they longed the rest to hear. 
Encouraged thus, the Aged Man, 
After meet rest, again began. 



THE 

LAY 

OF 

THE LAST MINSTREL. 



CANTO SECOND. 



THE 



LAY OF THE LAST MINSTREL, 
CANTO SECOND. 



I. 

If thou would'st view fair Melrose aright, 

Go visit it by the pale moon-light ; 

For the gay beams of lightsome day 

Gild, but to flout, the ruins gray. 

When the broken arches are black in night, 

And each shafted oriel glimmers white ; 

When the cold lights uncertain shower 

Streams on the ruined central tower ; 
2 



44 THE LAY OF CANTO II. 

When buttress and buttress, alternately, 

Seem framed of ebon and ivory ; 

When silver edges the imagery, 

And the scrolls that teach thee to live and die ; 

When distant Tweed is heard to rave, 

And the owlet to hoot o'er the dead man's grave. 

Then go — but go alone the while — 

Then view St David's ruined pile ; 

And, home returning, soothly swear, 

Was never scene so sad and fair ! 

II. 

Short halt did Deloraine make there ; 
Little recked he of the scene so fair : 
With dagger's hilt, on the wicket strong, 
He struck full loud* and struck full long. 
The porter hurried to the gate — 
" Who knocks so loud, and knocks so late ?"— - 
" From Branksome I," the warrior cried; 
And strait the wicket opened wide : 



CANTO II. THE LAST MINSTREL. 45 

For Branksome's chiefs had in battle stood, 
To fence the rights of fair Melrose ; 

And lands and livings, many a rood, 

Had gifted the shrine for their souls' repose. 

III. 

Bold Deloraine his errand said ; 
The porter bent his humble head ; 
With torch in hand, and feet unshod, 
And noiseless step, the path he trod : 
The arched cloisters, far and wide, 
Rang to the warrior's clanking stride ; 
Till, stooping low his lofty crest, 
He entered the cell of the ancient priest, 
And lifted his barred aventayle, # 
To hail the Monk of St Mary's aisle. 

* Aventayle, visor of the helmet. 



46 THE LAY OF GANTO IL 

IV. 

" The Ladye of Branksome greets thee by me ; 

Says, that the fated hour is come, 
And that to-night I shall watch with thee, 

To win the treasure of the tomb." — 
From sackcloth couch the Monk arose, 

With toil his stiffened limbs he reared ; 
A hundred years had flung their snows 

On his thin locks and floating beard. 

V. 

And strangely on the Knight looked he, 

And his blue eyes gleamed wild and wide ; 
e c And, dar'st thou, Warrior ! seek to see 

What heaven and hell alike would hide ? 
My breast, in belt of iron pent, 

With shirt of hair and scourge of thorn, 
For threescore years, in penance spent, 

My knees those flinty stones have worn ; 



CANTO II. THE LAST MINSTREL, 47 

Yet all too little to atone 
For knowing what should ne'er be known. 
Would'st thou thy every future year 

In ceaseless prayer and penance drie, 
Yet wait thy latter end with fear — 
Then, daring Warrior, follow me !" 

VI. 

" Penance, Father, will I none ; 

Prayer know I hardly one ; 

For mass or prayer can I rarely tarry, 

Save to patter an Ave Mary, 

When I ride on a Border foray : 

Other prayer can I none; 

So speed me my errand, and let me be gone." — 

VII. 

Again on the Knight looked the Churchman old, 

And again he sighed heavily; 
For he had himself been a warrior bold, 

And fought in Spain and Italy. 



48 THE LAY 01? CANTO II. 

And he thought on the days that were long since by, 
When his limbs were strong, and his courage was 

high : — 
Now, slow and faint, he led the way, 
Where, cloistered round, the garden lay; 
The pillared arches were over their head, 
And beneath their feet were the bones of the dead. 

VIII. 

Spreading herbs, and flowerets bright, 
Glistened with the dew of night ; 
Nor herb, nor floweret, glistened there, 
But was carved in the cloister-arches as fair. 
The Monk gazed long on the lovely moon, 

Then into the night he looked forth ; 
And red and bright the streamers light 
Were dancing in the glowing north, 
So had he seen, in fair Castile, 

The youth in glittering squadrons start ; 
Sudden the flying jennet wheel, 
And hurl the unexpected dart. 



CANTO II. THE LAST MINSTREL. 49 

He knew, by the streamers that shot so bright, 
That spirits were riding the northern light. 

IX. 

By a steel-clenched postern door, 

They entered now the chancel tall; 
The darkened roof rose high aloof 

On pillars, lofty, and light, and small : 
The key-stone, that locked each ribbed aisle, 
Was a fleur-de-lys, or a quatre-feuille ; 
The corbells* were carved grotesque and grim; 
And the pillars, with clustered shafts so trim, 
With base and with capital flourished around, 
Seemed bundles of lances which garlands had bound. 

X. 

Full many a scutcheon and banner, riven, 
Shook to the cold night-wind of heaven, 

* Corbells, the projections from which the arches spring, 
usually cut in a fantastic face, or mask. 



SO THE LAY OF CANTO II. 

Around the screened altar's pale ; 
And there the dying lamps did burn, 
Before thy low and lonely urn, 
O gallant chief of Otterburne ! 

And thine, dark Knight of Liddesdale ! 
O fading honours of the dead J 
O high ambition, lowly laid ! 

XL 

The moon on the east oriel shone 
Through slender shafts of shapely stone, 

By foliaged tracery combined ; 
Thou would'st have thought some fairy's hand 
'Twixt poplars straight the ozier wand, 

In many a freakish knot, had twined ; 
Then framed a spell, when the work was done, 
And changed the willow-wreaths to stone. 

The silver light, so pale and faint, 

Shewed many a prophet, and many a saint, 



CANTO II. THE LAST MINSTREL. 51 

Whose image on the glass was dyed ; 
Full in the midst, his Cross of Red 
Triumphant Michael brandished, 

And trampled the Apostate's pride. 
The moon-beam kissed the holy pane, 
And threw on the pavement a bloody stain. 

XII. 

They sate them down on a marble stone, 

A Scottish monarch slept below ; 
Thus spoke the Monk, in solemn tone —* 

" I was not always a man of woe ; 
For Paynim countries I have trod, 
And fought beneath the Cross of God : 
Now, strange to my eyes thine arms appear, 
And their iron clang sounds strange to my ear. 

XIII. 

" In these far climes, it was my lot 
To meet the wonderous Michael Scott ; 



52 THE LAY OF CANTO II, 

A wizard of such dreaded fame, 
That when, in Salamanca's cave, 
Him listed his magic wand to wave, 

The bells would ring in Notre Dame ! 
Some of his skill he taught to me ; 
And, Warrior, I could say to thee 
The words that cleft Eildon hills in three, 

And bridled the Tweed with a curb of stone : 
But to speak them were a deadly sin ; 
And for having but thought them my heart within, 

A treble penance must be done. 

XIV. 
" When Michael lay on his dying bed, 
His conscience was awakened ; 
He bethought him of his sinful deed, 
And he gave me a sign to come with speed : 
I was in Spain when the morning rose, 
But I stood by his bed ere evening close. 



CANTO II. THE LAST MINSTREL. 53 

The words may not again be said, 
That he spoke to me, on death-bed laid ; 
They would rend this Abbaye's massy nave, 
And pile it in heaps above his grave. 

XV. 

" I swore to bury his Mighty Book, 

That never mortal might therein look ; 

And never to tell where it was hid, 

Save at his chief of Branksome's need; 

And when that need was past and o'er, 

Again the volume to restore. 

I buried him on St Michael's night, 

When the bell tolled one, and the moon was bright ; 

And I dug his chamber among the dead, 

When the floor of the chancel was stained red, 

That his patron's cross might over him wave, 

And scare the fiends from the Wizard's grave. 



S* THE LAY OF CANTO H. 

XVI. 

" It was a night of woe and dread, 

When Michael in the tomb I laid ! 

Strange sounds along the chancel past, 

The banners waved without a blast" — 

— Still spoke the Monk, when the bell tolled one !- 

I tell you, that a braver man 

Than William of Deloraine, good at need, 

Against a foe ne'er spurred a steed ; 

Yet somewhat was he chilled with dread, 

And his hair did bristle upon his head. 

XVII. 
u Lo, Warrior ! now, the Cross of Red 
Points to the grave of the mighty dead ; 
Within it burns a wonderous light, 
To chase the spirits that love the night : 
That lamp shall burn unquenchably, 
Until the eternal doom shall be." — 
9 



canto II. THE LAST MINSTREL. H 

Slow moved the Monk to the broad flag-stone, 

Which the bloody Cross was traced upon : 

He pointed to a secret nook ; 

An iron bar the Warrior took ; 

And the Monk made a sign, with his withered hand, 

The grave's huge portal to expand. 

XVIII. 

With beating heart to the task he went ; 

His sinewy frame o'er the grave-stone bent ; 

With bar of iron heaved amain, 

Till the toil-drops fell from his brows, like rain. 

It was by dint of passing strength, 

That he moved the massy stone at length 

I would you had been there, to see 

How the light broke forth so gloriously, 

Streamed upward to the chancel roof, 

And through the galleries far aloof ! 
No earthly flame blazed e'er so bright : 
It shone like heaven's own blessed light ; 



56 THE LAY OF CANTO II. 

And, issuing from the tomb, 
Shewed the Monk's cowl, and visage pale, 
Danced on the dark-browed Warrior's mail, 

And kissed his waving plume. 

XIX. 

Before their eyes the Wizard lay, 
As if he had not been dead a day. 
His hoary beard in silver rolled, 
He seemed some seventy winters old ; 
A palmer's amice wrapped him round, 
With a wrought Spanish baldric bound, 
Like a pilgrim from beyond the sea ; 
His left hand held his Book of Might ; 
A silver cross was in his right ; 

The lamp was placed beside his knee : 
High and majestic was his look, 
At which the fellest fiends had shook, 
And all unruffled was his face : 
They trusted his soul had gotten grace. 



CANTO II. THE LAST MINSTREL. 57 

XX. 

Often had William of Deloraine 
Rode through the battle's bloody plain, 
And trampled down the warriors slain, 

And neither known remorse or awe ; 
Yet now remorse and awe he owned ; 
His breath came thick, his head swam round, 

When this strange scene of death he saw. 
Bewildered and unnerved he stood, 
And the priest prayed fervently, and loud : 
With eyes averted prayed he ; 
He might not endure the sight to see, 
Of the man he had loved so brotherly. 

XXI. 

And when the priest his death-prayer had prayed, 

Thus unto Deloraine he said : — 

" Now speed thee what thou hast to do, 

Or, Warrior, we may dearly rue ; 



58 THE LAY OF CANTO II. 

For those, thou may'st not look upon, 

Are gathering fast round the yawning stone !" — 

Then Deloraine, in terror, took 

From the cold hand the Mighty Book, 

With iron clasped, and with iron bound : 

He thought, as he took it, the dead man frowned ; 

But the glare of the sepulchral light, 

Perchance, had dazzled the Warrior's sight. 

XXII. 

When the huge stone sunk o'er the tomb, 

The night returned in double gloom, 

For the moon had gone down, and the stars were few - 9 

And, as the Knight and Priest withdrew, 

With wavering steps and dizzy brain, 

They hardly might the postern gain. 

'Tis said, as through the aisles they passed, 

They heard strange noises on the blast ; 

And through the cloister-galleries small, 

Which at mid-height thread the chancel wall, 



CANTO II. THE LAST MINSTREL. 59 

Loud sobs, and laughter louder, ran, 
And voices unlike the voice of man ; 
As if the fiends kept holiday, 
Because these spells were brought to day. 
I cannot tell how the truth may be; 
I say the tale as 'twas said to me. 

XXII. 

" Now, hie thee hence," the Father said* 

« And when we are on death-bed laid, 

O may our dear Ladye, and sweet St John, 

Forgive our souls for the deed we have done !" — 

The Monk returned him to his cell, 
And many a prayer and penance sped •, 

When the convent met at the noontide bell — 
The Monk of St Mary's aisle was dead ! 
Before the cross was the body laid, 
With hands clasped fast, as if still he prayed. 



60 THE LAY OF CANTO II. 

XXV. 

The Knight breathed free in the morning wind, 

And strove his hardihood to find : 

He was glad when he passed the tombstones gray, 

Which girdle round the fair Abbaye ; 

For the mystic Book, to his bosom prest, 

Felt like a load upon his breast ; 

And his joints, with nerves of iron twined, 

Shook, like the aspen leaves in wind. 

Full fain was he when the dawn of day 

Began to brighten Cheviot gray ; 

He joyed to see the chearful light, 

And he said Ave Mary, as well as he might. 

XXV. 

The sun had brightened Cheviot gray, 

The sun had brightened the Carter's * side ; 

And soon beneath the rising day 

Smiled Branksome Towers and Teviot's tide. 

* A mountain on the border of England, above Jedburgh. 



CANTO II. THE LAST MINSTREL. 61 

The wild birds told their warbling tale, 

And wakened every flower that blows ; 
And peeped forth the violet pale, 

And spread her breast the mountain rose : 
And lovelier than the rose so red, 

Yet paler than the violet pale, 
She early left her sleepless bed, 

The fairest maid of Teviotdale. 

XXVI. 

Why does fair Margaret so early awake, 

And don her kirtle so hastilie ; 
And the silken knots, which in hurry she would make, 

Why tremble her slender fingers to tie ; 
Why does she stop, and look often around, 

As she glides down the secret stair ; 
And why does she pat the shaggy blood-hound, 

As he rouses him up from his lair ; 
And, though she passes the postern alone, 
Why is not the watchman's bugle blown ? 



62 THE LAY OF CANTO II. 

XXVIL 

The ladye steps in doubt and dread, 

Lest her watchful mother hear her tread ; 

The ladye caresses the rough blood-hound, 

Lest his voice should waken the castle round ; 

The watchman's bugle is not blown, 

For he was her foster-father's son ; 

And she glides through the greenwood at dawn of 

light, 
To meet Baron Henry, her own true knight. 

XXVIII. 

The Knight and Ladye fair are met, 
And under the hawthorn's boughs are set. 
A fairer pair were never seen 
To meet beneath the hawthorn green. 
He was stately, and young, and tall ; 
Dreaded in battle, and loved in hall : 
And she, when love, scarce told, scarce hidV 
Lent to her cheek a livelier red ; 



GANTO II. THE LAST MINSTREL. 63 

When the half sigh her swelling breast 
Against the silken ribband prest ; 
When her blue eyes their secret told, 
Though shaded by her locks of gold — 
Where would you find the peerless fair, 
With Margaret of Branksome might compare ! 

XXIX. 

And now, fair dames, methinks I see 

You listen to my minstrelsy ; 

Your waving locks ye backward throw, 

And sidelong bend your necks of snow : — 

Ye ween to hear a melting tale, 

Of two true lovers in a dale ; 

And how the Knight, with tender fire, 

To paint his faithful passion strove ; 
Swore, he might at her feet expire, 

But never, never cease to love ; 
And how she blushed, and how she sighed, 
And, half consenting, half denied, 



64 THE LAY OF CANTO II, 

And said that she would die a maid ; — 
Yet, might the bloody feud be stayed, 
Henry of Cranstoun, and only he, 
Margaret of Branksome's choice should be. 

XXX. 

Alas ! fair dames, your hopes are vain I 
My harp has lost the enchanting strain ; 

Its lightness would my age reprove : 
My hairs are gray, my limbs are old, 
My heart is dead, my veins are cold : — 

I may not, must not, sing of love. 

XXXI. 

Beneath an oak, mossed o'er by eld, 
The Baron's Dwarf his courser held, 

And held his crested helm and spear i 
That Dwarf was scarcely an earthly man* 
If the tales were true, that of him ran 

Through all the Border, far and near. 



CANTO II. THE LAST MINSTREL. 65 

'Twas said, when the Baron a -hunting rode 
Through Reedsdale's glens, but rarely trod, 
He heard a voice cry, " Lost ! lost ! lost ¥* 
And, like tennis-ball by raquet tossed* 

A leap, of thirty feet and three, 
Made from the gorse this elfin shape, 
Distorted like some dwarfish ape, 

And lighted at Lord Cranstoun's knee. 
Lord Cranstoun was some whit dismayed ; 
'Tis said, that five good miles he rade, 
To rid him of his company ; 
But where he rode one mile, the Dwarf ran four ? 
And the Dwarf was first at the castle door. 

XXXIL 

Use lessens marvel, it is said. 

This elvish Dwarf with the Baron staid : 

Little he ate, and less he spoke, 

Nor mingled with the menial flock ; 



66 THE LAY OF CANTO II. 

And oft apart his arms he tossed, 
And often muttered, " Lost ! lost ! lost !" 
He was waspish, arch, and litherlie, 
But well Lord Cranstoun served he : 
And he of his service was full fain ; 
For once he had been ta'en or slain, 
An* it had not been his ministry. 
All, between Home and Hermitage, 
Talked of Lord Cranstoun's Goblin- Page. 

XXXIII. 

For the Baron went on pilgrimage, 
And took with him this elvish Page, 

To Mary's chapel of the Lowes : 
For there, beside Our Ladye's lake, 
An offering he had sworn to make, 

And he would pay his vows. 
But the Ladye of Branksome gathered a band 
Of the best that would ride at her command ; 



CANTO II. THE LAST MINSTREL. 67 

The trysting place was Newark Lee. 
Wat of Harden came thither amain, 
And thither came John of Thirlestaine, 
And thither came William of Deloraine ; 

They were three hundred spears and three. 
Through Douglas-burn, up Yarrow stream, 
Their horses prance, their lances gleam. 
They came to St Mary's lake ere day ; 
But the chapel was void, and the Baron away. 
They burned the chapel for very rage, 
And cursed Lord Cranstoun's Goblin- Page. * 

XXXIV. 

And now, in Branksome's good green wood ? 

As under the aged oak he stood, 

The Baron's courser pricks his ears, 

As if a distant noise he hears. 

The Dwarf waves his long lean arm on high, 

And signs to the lovers to part and fly ; 

No time was then to vow or sigh. 



68 THE LAY OF CANTO II. 

Fair Margaret, through the hazel grove, 
Flew like the startled cushat-dove : * 
The Dwarf the stirrup held and rein. 
Vaulted the knight on his steed amain, 
And, pondering deep that morning's scene, 
Rode eastward through the hawthorns green. 



While thus he poured the lengthened tale, 
The Minstrel's voice began to fail : 
Full slyly smiled the observant page, 
And gave the withered hand of age 
A goblet, crowned with mighty wine, 
The blood of Velez' scorched vine. 
He raised the~ silver cup on high, 
And, while the big drop filled his eye, 
Prayed God to bless the Duchess long, 
And all who cheered a son of song. 

* Wood Pigeon, 



CANTO II. THE LAST MINSTREL. 69 

The attending maidens smiled to see, 
How long, how deep, how zealously, 
The precious juice the Minstrel quaffed \ 
And he, emboldened by the draught, 
Looked gaily back to them, and laughed* 
The cordial nectar of the bowl 
Swelled his old veins, and cheered his soul ; 
A lighter, livelier prelude ran, 
Ere thus his tale again began. 



THE 

LAY 



OF 



THE LAST MINSTREL. 



CANTO THIRD. 



THE 



LAY OF THE LAST MINSTREL. 

CANTO THIRD. 



I. 

And said I that my limbs were old, 
And said I that my blood was cold, 
And that my kindly fire was fled, 
And my poor withered heart was dead, 

And that I might not sing of love ? — 
How could I to the dearest theme, 
That ever warmed a minstrel's dream, 

So foul, so false a recreant prove ! 



74 THE LAY OF CANTO III. 

How could I name love's very name, 
Nor wake my harp to notes of flame ! 

II. 

In peace, Love tunes the shepherd's reed ; 

In war, he mounts the warrior's steed ; 

In halls, in gay attire is seen ; 

In hamlets, dances on the green. 

Love rules the court, the camp, the grove, 

And men below, and saints above ; 

For love is heaven, and heaven is love. 

III. 

So thought Lord Cranstoun, as I ween, 
While, pondering deep the tender scene, 
He rode through Branksome's hawthorn green. 
But the Page shouted wild and shrill — 
And scarce his helmet could he don, 
When downward from the shady hill 
A stately knight came pricking on. 



CANTO III. THE LAST MINSTREL. 

That warrior's steed, so dapple-gray, 

Was dark with sweat, and splashed with clay ; 

His armour red with many a stain : 
He seemed in such a weary plight, 
As if he had ridden the live-long night ; 

For it was William of Deloraine. 

IV. 

But no whit weary did he seem, 
When, dancing in the sunny beam, 
He marked the crane on the Baron's crest ; 
For his ready spear was in his rest. 

Few were the words, and stern and high, 

That marked the foemen's feudal hate ; 
For question fierce, and proud reply, 

Gave signal soon of dire debate. 
Their very coursers seemed to know 
That each was other's mortal foe ; 
And snorted fire, when wheeled around, 
To give each knight his vantage ground. 



76 THE LAY OP CANTO III. 

V. 

In rapid round the Baron bent ; 

He sighed a sigh, and prayed a prayer : 
The prayer was to his patron saint, 

The sigh was to his ladye fair. 
Stout Deloraine nor sighed, nor prayed,, 
Nor saint, nor ladye, called to aid ; 
But he stooped his head, and couched his spear, 
And spurred his steed to full career. 
The meeting of these champions proud 
Seemed like the bursting thunder-cloud. 

VI. 

Stern was the dint the Borderer lent ! 

The stately Baron backwards bent ; 

Bent backwards to his horse's tail, 

And his plumes went scattering on the gale ; 

The tough ash spear, so stout and true. 

Into a thousand flinders flew. 

But Cranstoun's lance, of more avail, 

Pierced through, like silk, the Borderer's mail 5 



CANTO III. THE LAST MINSTREL. 77" 

Through shield, and jack, and acton past, 
Deep in his bosom broke at last. — 
Still sate the warrior saddle-fast, 
Till, stumbling in the mortal shock, 
Down went the steed, the girthing broke, 
Hurled on a heap lay man and horse. 
The Baron onward passed his course ; 
Nor knew — so giddy roll'd his brain — 
His foe lay stretched upon the plain. 

VII. 

But when he reined his courser round, 
And saw his foeman on the ground 

Lie senseless as the bloody clay, 
He bade his Page to staunch the wound, 

And there beside the warrior stay, 
And tend him in his doubtful state, 
And lead him to Branksome castle-gate : 
His noble mind was inly moved 
For the kinsman of the maid he loved. 
12 



7'6 THE LAY OF CANTO III. 

" This shalt thou do without delay ; 
No longer here myself may stay : 
Unless the swifter I speed away, 
Short shrift will be at my dying day." — 

VIII. 

Away in speed Lord Cranstoun rode ; 

The Goblin- Page behind abode : 

His lord's command he ne'er withstood, 

Though small his pleasure to do good. 

As the corslet off he took, 

The Dwarf espied the Mighty Book ! 

Much he marvelled, a knight of pride 

Like a book-bosomed priest should ride : 

He thought not to search or staunch the wound, 

Until the secret he had found. 

IX. 

The iron band, the iron clasp, 
Resisted long the elfin grasp ; 



CANTO III. THE LAST MINSTREL. 79 

For when the first he had undone, 

It closed as he the next begun. 

Those iron clasps, that iron band, 

Would not yield to unchristened hand, 

Till he smeared the cover o'er 

With the Borderer's curdled gore ; 

A moment then the volume spread, 

And one short spell therein he read. 

It had much of glamour * might, 

Could make a ladye seem a knight ; 

The cobwebs on a dungeon wall 

Seem tapestry in lordly hall ; 

A nut-shell seem a gilded barge, 

A sheeling f seem a palace large, 

And youth seem age, and age seem youth — 

All was delusion, nought was truth. 

X. 

He had not read another spell, 
When on his cheek a buffet fell, 

* Magical delusion. f A shepherd's hut. 



THE LAY OF CANTO III, 

So fierce, it stretched him on the plain, 

g the wounded Deloraine. 
From the ground he rose dismayed. 
And shook his huge aud matted head : 
One word he muttered, and no more — 
;; Man of age, thou smitest so: 
No more the Elfin Page durst try 
Into the wondrous Book to pry ; 
The clasps, though smeared with Christian gore. 
Shut taster than they were before. 
He hid it underneath his cloak. — 
Now, if you ask who gave the stroke, 
I cannot tell, so mot I thr: 
It was not given by man alive. 

XL 
Unwillingly himself he addressed. 
To do his master's hicrh behest : 
He lifted up the living corse.. 
And laid it on the weary horse : 



CANTO III. THE LAST MINSTREL. 81 

He led him into Branksome hall, 

Before the beards of the warders all ; 

And each did after swear and say, 

There only passed a wain of hay. 

He took him to Lord David's tower, 

Even to the Ladye's secret bower ; 

And, but that stronger spells were spread, 

And the door might not be opened, 

He had laid him on her very bed. 

Whate'er he did of gramarye,* 

Was always done maliciously ; 

He flung the warrior on the ground,, 

And the blood welled freshly from the wound. 

XII. 

As he repassed the outer court, 
He spied the fair young child at sport : 
He thought to train him to the wood ; 
For, at a word, be it understood, 
He was always for ill, and never for good. 
* Magic. 



82 THE LAY OF CANTO Hi. 

Seemed to the boy, some comrade gay 
Led him forth to the woods to play ; 
On the draw-bridge the warders stout 
Saw a terrier and lurcher passing out. 

XIII. 

He led the boy o'er bank and fell, 

Until they came to a woodland brook ; 
The running stream dissolved the spell, 

And his own elvish shape he took. 
Could he have had his pleasure vilde, 
He had crippled the joints of the noble child ; 
Or, with his fingers long and lean. 
Had strangled him in fiendish spleen ; 
But his awful mother he had in dread, 
And also his power was limited ; 
So he but scowled on the startled child, 
And darted through the forest wild ; 
The woodland brook he bounding crossed, 
And laughed, and shouted, « Lost ! lost ! lost !" 



CANTO ill. THE LAST MINSTREL. 83 

XIV. 

Full sore amazed at the wonderous change, 

And frightened, as a child might be, 
At the wild yell and visage strange, 

And the dark words of gramarye, 
The child, amidst the forest bower, 
Stood rooted like a lily flower ; 

And when at length, with trembling pace, 
He sought to find where Branksome lay, 

He feared to see that grisly face 

Glare from some thicket on his way. 
Thus, starting oft, he journeyed on, 
And deeper in the wood is gone, — 
For aye the more he sought his way, 
The farther still he went astray, — 
Until he heard the mountains round 
Ring to the baying of a hound. 



84 THE LAY OF CANTO III. 

XV. 

And hark ! and hark ! the deep-mouthed bark 

Comes nigher still, and nigher j 
Bursts on the path a dark blood-hound, 
His tawny muzzle tracked the ground, 

And his red eye shot fire. 
Soon as the wildered child saw he, 
He flew at him right furiouslie. 
I ween you would have seen with joy 
The bearing of the gallant boy, 
When, worthy of his noble sire, 
His wet cheek glowed 'twixt fear and ire ! 
He faced the blood-hound manfully, 
And held his little bat on high ; 
So fierce he struck, the dog, afraid, 
At cautious distance hoarsely bayed, 

But still in act to spring ; 
When dashed an archer through the glade, 
And when he saw the hound was stayed, 

He drew his tough bow-string ; 



CANTO III. THE LAST MINSTREL. 85 

But a rough voice cried, " Shoot not, hoy ! 
Ho ! shoot not, Edward — 'Tis a boy !" — 

xvr. 

The speaker issued from the wood, 
And checked his fellow's surly mood, 

And quelled the ban-dog's ire : 
He was an English yeoman good, 

And born in Lancashire. 
Well could he hit a fallow deer 

Five hundred feet him fro ; 
With hand more true,, and eye more clear, 

No archer bended bow. 
His coal-black hair, shorn round and close, 

Set off his sun-burned face ; 
Old England's sign, St George's cross, 

His barret-cap did grace ; 
His bugle-horn hung by his side, 

All in a wolf-skin baldric tied ; 
And his short faulchion, sharp and clear, 
Had pierced the throat of many a deer. 



86 THE LAY OF CANTO III. 

XVII. 
His kirtle, made of forest green, 

Reached scantly to his knee; 
And, at his belt, of arrows keen 

A furbished sheaf bore he ; 
His buckler scarce in breadth a span, 

No longer fence had he ; 
He never counted him a man, 

Would strike below the knee ; 
His slackened bow was in his hand, 
And the leash, that was his blood-hound's band. 

XVIII. 

He would not do the fair child harm, 
But held him with his powerful arm, 
That he might neither fight nor flee ; 
For when the Red- Cross spied he, 
The boy strove long and violently. 
" Now, by St George," the archer cries, 
" Edward, methinks we have a prize ! 



CANTO III. THE LAST MINSTREL. 87 

This boy's fair face, and courage free, 
Shews he is come of high degree." 

XIX. 

et Yes ! I am come of high degree, 

For I am the heir of bold Buccleuch ; 
And, if thou dost not set me free, 

False Southron, thou shalt dearly rue ! 
For Walter of Harden shall come with speed, 
And William of Deloraine, good at need, 
And every Scott from Esk to Tweed ; 
And, if thou dost not let me go, 
Despite thy arrows, and thy bow, 
I'll have thee hanged to feed the crow !" 

XX. 

" Gramercy, for thy good will, fair boy ! 
My mind was never set so high ; 
But if thou art chief of such a clan, 
And art the son of such a man, 



88 THE LAY OF CANTO JUL 

And ever comest to thy command, 

Our wardens had need to keep good order : 
My bow of yew to a hazel wand, 

Thou'lt make them work upon the Border. 
Meantime, be pleased to come with me, 
For good Lord Dacre shalt thou see ; 
I think our work is well begun, 
When we have taken thy father's son."— 

XXL 

Although the child was led away, 
In Branksome still he seemed to stay, 
For so the Dwarf his part did play ; 
And, in the shape of that young boy, 
He wrought the castle much annoy. 
The comrades of the young Buccleuch 
He pinched, and beat, and overthrew ; 
Nay, some of them he well nigh slew. 
He tore Dame Maudlin's silken tire, 
And, as Sym Hall stood by the fire, 



CANTO HI. THE LAST MINSTREL. 89 

He lighted the match of his bandelier,* 
And woefully scorched the hackbutteer.f 
It may be hardly thought or said, 
The mischief that the urchin made. 
Till many of the castle guessed, 
That the young Baron was possessed ! 

XXII. 

Well I ween, the charm he held 
The noble Ladye had soon dispelled ; 
But she was deeply busied then 
To tend the wounded Deloraine. 

Much she wondered to find him he, 

On the stone threshold stretched along; 

She thought some spirit of the sky 

Had done the bold moss-trooper wrong ; 
Because, despite her precept dread, 
Perchance he in the Book had read ; 

* Bandelier, belt for carrying ammunition, 
t Hackbut teer, musketeer. 



90 THE LAY OF CANTO III. 

But the broken lance in his bosom stood, 
And it was earthly steel and wood. 

XXIII. 

She drew the splinter from the wound, 
And with a charm she staunched the blood ; 

She bade the gash be cleansed and bound : 
No longer by his couch she stood ; 

But she has ta'en the broken lance, 
And washed it from the clotted gore, 
And salved the splinter o'er and o'er. 

William of Deloraine, in trance, 

Whene'er she turned it round and round. 
Twisted, as if she galled his wound. 
Then to her maidens she did say, 
That he should be whole man and sound, 
Within the course of a night and day. 

Full long she toiled ; for she did rue 

Mishap to friend so stout and true. 



CANTO III. THE LAST MINSTREL. 91 

XXIV. 

So passed the day — the evening fell, 
'Twas near the time of curfew bell ; 
The air was mild, the wind was calm, 
The stream was smooth, the dew was balm ; 
E'en the rude watchman, on the tower, 
Enjoyed and blessed the lovely hour. 
Far more fair Margaret loved and blessed 
The hour of silence and of rest. 
On the high turret sitting lone, 
She waked at times the lute's soft tone ; 
Touched a wild note, and, all between, 
Thought of the bower of hawthorns green. 
Her golden hair streamed free from band, 
Her fair cheek rested on her hand, 
Her blue eyes sought the west afar, 
For lovers love the western star. 

XXV. 
Is yon the star, o'er Penchryst Pen, 
That rises slowly to her ken, 



92 , THE LAY OF CANTO Hi. 

And, spreading broad its wavering light, 

Shakes its loose tresses on the night ? 

Is yon red glare the western star ? — 

O, 'tis the beacon-blaze of war ! 

Scarce could she draw her tightened breath, 

For well she knew the fire of death ! 

XXVI. 

The Warder viewed it blazing strong, 
And blew his war-note loud and long, 
Till, at the high and haughty sound, 
Rock, wood, and river, rang around. 
The blast alarmed the festal hall, 
And startled forth the warriors all ; 
Far downward, in the castle-yard, 
Full many a torch and cresset glared ; 
And helms and plumes, confusedly tossed, 
Were in the blaze half-seen, half-lost ; 
And spears in wild disorder shook, 
Like reeds beside a frozen brook. 



CANTO IN. THE LAST MINSTREL. 93 

XXVII. 

The Seneschal, whose silver hair 

Was reddened by the torches'' glare, 

Stood in the midst, with gesture proud, 

And issued forth his mandates loud. — 

" On Penchryst glows a bale # of fire, 

And three are kindling on Priesthaughswire ; 

Ride out, ride out, 

The foe to scout ! 
Mount, mount for Branksome, f every man ! 
Thou, Todrig, warn the Johnstone clan, 

That ever are true and stout. — 
Ye need not send to Liddesdale ; 
For, when they see the blazing bale, 
Elliots and Armstrongs never fail. — 
Ride, Alton, ride, for death and life ! 
And warn the Warden of the strife. 
Young Gilbert, let our beacon blaze, 
Our kin, and clan, and friends, to raise." — 

* Bale, beacon-faggot. 

f Mount for Branksome was the gathering word of the Scotts. 



<H THE LAY OF CANTO III. 

XXVIII. 

Fair Margaret, from the turret head, 
Heard, far below, the coursers' tread, 

While loud the harness rung, 
As to their seats, with clamour dread, 

The ready horsemen sprung ; 
And trampling hoofs, and iron coats, 
And leaders' voices, mingled notes, 
And out ! and out ! 
In hasty route, 

The horsemen galloped forth ; 
Dispersing to the south to scout, 

And east, and west, and north, 
To view their coming enemies, 
And warn their vassals, and allies. 

XXIX. 

The ready page, with hurried hand, 
Awaked the need-fire's* slumbering brand, 

« Need-fire, beacon. 



CANTO III. THE LAST MINSTREL. 95 

And ruddy blushed the heaven ; 
For a sheet of flame, from the turret high. 
Waved like a blood-flag on the sky, 

All flaring and uneven. 
And soon a score of fires, I ween, 
From height, and hill, and cliff, were seen ; 
Each with warlike tidings fraught ; 
Each from each the signal caught ; 
Each after each they glanced to sight, 
As stars arise upon the night. 
They gleamed on many a dusky tarn, * 
Haunted by the lonely earn -, f 
On many a cairn's J gray pyramid, 
Where urns of mighty chiefs lie hid ; 
Till high Dunedin the blazes saw, 
From Soltra and Dumpender Law ; 
And Lothian heard the Regent's order, 
That all should bowne J| them for the Border. 



* Tarn, a mountain lake. f Earn t a Scottish eagle, 
% Cairn, a pile of stones. |j Bowne, make ready. 



96 THE LAY OF CANTO III. 

XXX. 

The livelong night in Branksome rang 

The ceaseless sound of steel ; 
The castle-bell, with backward clang, 

Sent forth the larum peal ; 
Was frequent heard the heavy jar, 
Where massy stone and iron bar 
Were piled on echoing keep and tower, 
To whelm the foe with deadly shower ; 
Was frequent heard the changing guard, 
And watch-word from the sleepless ward ; 
While, wearied by the endless din, 
Blood-hound and ban-dog yelled within. 

XXXI. 

The noble Dame, amid the broil, 
Shared the gray Seneschal's high toil, 
And spoke of danger with a smile ; 
Cheered the young knights, and council sage 
Held with the chiefs of riper age. 
5 



CANTO III. THE LAST MINSTREL'. 97 

No tidings of the foe were brought, 
Nor of his numbers knew they aught, 
Nor in what time the truce he sought. 

Some said, that there were thousands ten ; 
And others weened that it was naught 

But Leven Clans, or Tynedale men, 
Who came to gather in black-mail;* 
And Liddesdale, with small avail, 

Might drive them lightly back agen. 
So passed the anxious night away, 
And welcome was the peep of day. 



Ceased the high sound — the listening throng 
Applaud the Master of the Song ; 
And marvel much, in helpless age, 
So hard should be his pilgrimage. 

* Protection-money exacted by free-booterg. 
a 



9S THE LAY, &c. CANTO III, 

Had he no friend — no daughter dear, 
His wandering toil to share and cheer ; 
No son, to be his father's stay, 
And guide him on the rugged way ? 
" Ay, once he had — but he was dead !" — 
Upon the harp he stooped his head, 
And busied himself the strings withal, 
To hide the tear, that fain would fall. 
In solemn measure, soft and slow, 
Arose a father's notes of woe. 



THE 

LAY 



OF 



THE LAST MINSTREL. 



CANTO FOURTH. 



THE 



LAY OF THE LAST MINSTREL. 

CANTO FOURTH. 



I. 

Sweet Teviot ! on thy silver tide 
The glaring bale-fires blaze no more ; 

No longer steel-clad warriors ride 
Along thy wild and willowed shore ; 

Where'er thou wind'st, by dale or hill, 

All, all is peaceful, all is still, 



102 THE LAY OF CANTO IV. 

As if thy waves, since Time was born, 
Since first they rolled upon the Tweed, 
Had only heard the shepherd's reed, 

Nor started at the bugle-horn. 

II. 

Unlike the tide of human time, 

Which, though it change in ceaseless flow, 
Retains each grief, retains each crime, 

Its earliest course was doomed to know ; 
And, darker as it downward bears, 
Is stained with past and present tears. 

Low as that tide has ebbed with me, 
It still reflects to Memory's eye 
The hour, my brave, my only boy, 

Fell by the side of great Dundee. 
Why, when the volleying musket played 
Against the bloody Highland blade, 
Why was not I beside him laid ! — 
Enough — he died the death of fame; 
Enough — he died with conquering Graeme. •■ 



CANTO IV. THE LAST MINSTREL. 103 

III. 

Now over border dale and fell, 

Full wide and far was terror spread ; 

For pathless marsh, and mountain cell, 
The peasant left his lowly shed. 

The frightened flocks and herds were pent 

Beneath the peel's rude battlement ; 

And maids and matrons dropped the tear, 

While ready warriors seized the spear. 

From Branksome's towers, the watchman's eye 

Dun wreaths of distant smoke can spy, 

Which, curling in the rising sun, 

Shewed southern ravage was begun. 

IV. 

Now loud the heedful gate-ward cried — 
6< Prepare ye all for blows and blood ! 

Watt Tinlinn, from the Liddel-side, 
Comes wading through the flood. 

Full oft the Tynedale snatchers knock 

At his lone gate, and prove the lock ; 

8 



104 THE LAY OF CANTO IV 

It was but last St Barnabright 
They sieged him a whole summer night, 
But fled at morning; well they knew. 
In vain he never twanged the yew. 
Right sharp has been the evening shower, 
That drove him from his Liddel tower; 
And, by my faith," the gate-ward said, 
" I think 'twill prove a Warden-Raid-"* 

V. 

While thus he spoke, the bold yeoman 
Entered the echoing barbican. 
He led a small and shaggy nag, 
That through a bog, from hag to hag,f 
Could bound like any Billhope stag. 
It bore his wife and children twain 
A half-clothed serf J was all their train. 
His wife, stout, ruddy, and dark-browed, 
Of silver broach and bracelet proud, 

* An inroad commanded by the Warden in person. 
+ The broken ground in a bog. 
% Bonds-man. 



CANTO IV. THE LAST MINSTHEL. 105 

Laughed to her friends among the crowd. 

He was of stature passing tall, 

But sparely formed, and lean withal; 

A battered morion on his brow 

A leathern jack, as fence enow, 

On his broad shoulders loosely hung ; 

A border axe behind was slung; 

His spear, six Scottish ells in length, 
Seemed newly dyed with gore; 

His shafts and bow of wonderous strength, 
His hardy partner bore. 

VI 

Thus to the Ladye did Tinlinn shew 
The tidings of the English foe : — 
6< Belted Will Howard is marching here, 
And hot Lord Dacre, with many a spear, 
And all the German hackbut-men, * 
Who have long lain at Askerten : 
They crossed the Liddel at curfew hour, 
And burned my little lonely tower; 

* Musketeers. 



106 THE LAY OF CANTO IV. 

The fiend receive their souls therefor ! 

It had not been burned this year and more. 

Barn-yard and dwelling, blazing bright, 

Served to guide me on my flight ; 

But I was chased the live-long night. 

Black John of Akeshaw, and Fergus Graeme, 

Fast upon my traces came, 

Until I turned at Priesthaugh Scrogg, 

And shot their horses in the bog, 

Slew Fergus with my lance outright — 

I had him long at high despite, 

He drove my cows last Fastern's night." — 

VII. 

Now weary scouts from Liddesdale, 
Fast hurrying in, confirmed the tale ; 
As far as they could judge by ken, 

Three hours would bring to Teviot's strand 
Three thousand armed Englishmen. — 
Meanwhile, full many a warlike band, 



CANTO IV. THE LAST MINSTREL, 107 

From Teviot, Aill, and Ettrick shade, 
Came in, their Chief's defence to aid. 
There was saddling and mounting in haste, 

There was pricking o'er moor and lea; 
He that was last at the trysting place 
Was but lightly held of his gay ladye. 

VIII. 

From fair St Mary's silver wave, 

From dreary Gamescleuch's dusky height, 
His ready lances Thirlestane brave 

Arrayed beneath a banner bright. 
The tressured fleur-de-luce he claims 
To wreathe his shield, since royal James, 
Encamped by Fala's mossy wave, 
The proud distinction grateful gave, 

For faith 'mid feudal jars ; 
What time, save Thirlestane alone, 
Of Scotland's stubborn barons none 

Would march to southern wars ; 



108 THE LAY OF CANTO IV, 

And hence, in fair remembrance worn, 
Yon sheaf of spears his crest has borne ;- 
Hence his high motto shines revealed — 
" Ready, aye ready," for the field. 

IX. 

An aged Knight, to danger steeled, 
With many a moss-trooper, came on ; 

And azure in a golden field. 

The stars and crescent graced his shield, 
Without the bend of Murdieston. 

Wide lay his lands round Oakwood tower, 

And wide round haunted Castle-Ower ; 

High over Borthwick's mountain-flood, 

His wood-embosomed mansion stood j 

In the dark glen, so deep below, 

The herds of plundered England low, 

His bold retainers' daily food, 

And bought with danger, blows, and blood. 



CANTO IV. THE LAST MINSTREL. W9 

Marauding chief ! his sole delight 
The moonlight raid, the morning fight ; 
Not even the flower of Yarrow's charms, 
In youth might tame his rage for arms ; 
And still, in age, he spurned at rest, 
And still his brows the helmet pressed, 
Albeit the blanched locks below 
"Were white as Dinlay's spotless snow : 

Five stately warriors drew the sword 
Before their father's band ; 

A braver knight than Harden's lord 
Ne'er belted on a brand* 

X. 

Scotts of Eskdale, a stalwart band, 

Came trooping down the Todshawhill ; 

By the sword they won their land, 
And by the sword they hold it still. 

Hark en, Ladye, to the tale, 

Kow thy sires won fair Eskdale. — - 



110 THE LAY OF CANTO IV. 

Earl Morton was lord of that valley fair, 

The Beattisons were his vassals there. 

The Earl was gentle, and mild of mood, 

The vassals were warlike, and fierce, and rude ; 

High of heart, and haughty of word, 

Little they recked of a tame liege lord. 

The Earl to fair Eskdale came, 

Homage and seignory to claim : 

Of Gilbert the Galliard a heriot * he sought, 

Saying, " Give thy best steed, as a vassal ought." 

— " Dear to me is my bonny white steed, 

Oft has he helped me at pinch of need ; 

Lord and Earl though thou be, I trow, 

I can rein Bucksfoot better than thou." — 

Word on word gave fuel to fire, 

Till so highly blazed the Beattisons' ire, 

But that the Earl his flight had ta'en, 

The vassals there their lord had slain. 



* The feudal superior, in certain cases, was entitled to the 
best horse of the vassal, in name of Heriot, or Herezeld. 



CANTO IV. THE LAST MINSTREL. Ill 

Sore he plied both whip and spur, 

As he urged his steed through Eskdale muir ; 

And it fell down a weary weight, 

Just on the threshold of Branksome gate. 

IX. 

The Earl was a wrathful man to see, 

Full fain avenged would he be. 

In haste to Branksome' s lord he spoke, 

Saying — rt Take these traitors to thy yoke ; 

For a cast of hawks, and a purse of gold, 

All Eskdale I'll sell thee, to have and hold : 

Beshrew thy heart, of the Beattisons' clan 

If thou leavest on Eske a landed man ; 

But spare Woodkerrick's lands alone, 

For he lent me his horse to escape upon." — 

A glad man then was Branksome bold, 

Down he flung him the purse of gold ; 

To Eskdale soon he spurred amain, 

And with him five hundred riders has ta'en. 



112 THE LAY OF CANTO IV. 

He left his merrymen in the mist of the hill, 

And bade them hold them close and still; 

And alone he wended to the plain, 

To meet with the Galliard and all his train. 

To Gilbert the Galliard thus he said : — 

" Know thou me for thy liege lord and head ,* 

Deal not with me as with Morton tame, 

For Scotts play best at the roughest game. 

Give me in peace my heriot due, 

Thy bonny white steed, or thou shalt rue. 

If my horn I three times wind, 

Eskdale shall long have the sound in mind." — 

XII. 

Loudly the Beattison laughed in scorn ; — 
" Little care we for thy winded horn. 
Ne'er shall it be the Galliard's lot, 
To yield his steed to a haughty Scott. 
Wend thou to Branksome back on foot, 
With rusty spur and miry boot." — 



CANTO IV. THE LAST MINSTREL. 113 

He blew his bugle so loud and hoarse, 

That the dun deer started at far Craikcross j 

He blew again so loud and clear, 

Through the gray mountain mist there did lances 

appear ; 
And the third blast rang with such a din, 
That the echoes answered from Pentoun-linn ; 
And all his riders came lightly in. 
Then had you seen a gallant shock, 
When saddles were emptied, and lances broke ! 
For each scornful word the Galliard had said, 
A Beattison on the field was laid. 
His own good sword the chieftain drew, 
And he bore the Galliard through and through ; 
Where the Beattisons' blood mixed with the rill, 
The Galliard's Hangh, men call it still. 
The Scotts have scattered the Beattison clan, 
In Eskedale they left but one landed man. 
The valley of Eske, from the mouth to the source, 
Was lost and won for that bonny white horse. 

H 



114 THE LAY OF canto IV. 

XIII. 

Whitslade the Hawk, and Headshaw came, 
And warriors more than I may name ; 
From Yarrow-cleugh to Hindhaugh-swair, 

From Woodhouselie to Chester-glen, 
Trooped man and horse, and bow and spear ; 

Their gathering word was Bellenden. 
And better hearts o'er Border sod 
To siege or rescue never rode. 

The Ladye marked the aids come in, 
And high her heart of pride arose .* 
She bade her youthful son attend, 
That he might know his father's friend^ 

And learn to face his foes. 
<c The boy is ripe to look on war ; 

I saw him draw a cross-bow stifi> 
And his true arrow struck afar 
The raven's nest upon the cliff; 
The Red Cross, on a southern breast, 
Is broader than the raven's nest : 



CANTO IV. THE LAST MINSTREL. 115 

Thou, Whitslade, shall teach him his weapon to 

wield, 
And o'er him hold his father's shield." — 

XIV. 

Well may you think, the wily Page 
Cared not to face the Ladye sage. 
He counterfeited childish fear, 
And shrieked, and shed full many a tear, 

And moaned and plained in manner wild. 
The attendants to the Ladye told, 

Some fairy, sure, had changed the child, 
That wont to be so free and bold. 
Then wrathful was the noble dame ; 
She blushed blood-red for very shame : — 
" Hence ! ere the clan his faintness view ; 
Hence with the weakling to Buccleuch !— 
Watt Tinlinn, thou shalt be his guide 
To Rangleburn's lonely side, — 



116 THE LAY OF CANTO IV. 

Sure some fell fiend has cursed our line, 
That coward should e'er be son of mine !" — 

XV. 
A heavy task Watt Tinlinn had, 
To guide the counterfeited lad. 
Soon as the palfrey felt the weight 
Of that ill-omened elfish freight, 
He bolted, sprung, and reared amain, 
Nor heeded bit, nor curb, nor rein. 

It cost Watt Tinlinn mickle toil 

To drive him but a Scottish mile; 
But, as a shallow brook they crossed, 

The elf, amid the running stream, 

His figure changed, like form in dream, 

And fled, and shouted, " Lost ! lost ! lost !" 
Full fast the urchin ran and laughed, 
But faster still a cloth-yard shaft 
Whistled from startled Tinlinn's yew, 
And pierced his shoulder through and through. 



CANTO IV. THE LAST MINSTREL. 117 

Although the imp might not be slain, 
And though the wound soon healed again, 
Yet, as he ran, he yelled for pain ; 
And Watt of Tinlinn, much aghast, 
Rode back to Branksome fiery fast. 

XVL 

Soon on the hill's steep verge he stood, 
That looks o'er Branksome's towers and wood % 
And martial murmurs, from below, 
Proclaimed the approaching southern foe. 
Through the dark wood, in mingled tone, 
Were Border-pipes and bugles blown ; 
The coursers' neighing he could ken, 
And measured tread of marching men j 
While broke at times the solemn hum, 
The Almayn's sullen kettle-drum ; 

And banners tall, of crimson sheen, 
Above the copse appear ; 

And, glistening through the hawthorns green, 
Shine helm, and shield, and spear. 



118 THE LAY OF CANTO IV. 

XVII. 

Light forayers, first, to view the ground, 
Spurred their fleet coursers loosely round ; 

Behind, in close array, and fast, 
The Kendal archers, all in green, 

Obedient to the bugle blast, 

Advancing from the wood were seen. 
To back and guard the archer band, 
Lord Dacre's bill-men were at hand : 
A hardy race, on Irthing bred, 
With kirtles white, and crosses red, 
Arrayed beneath the banner tall, 
That streamed o'er Acre's conquered wall; 
And minstrels, as they marched in order, 
Played, " Noble Lord Dacre, he dwells on the 
Border." 

XVIII. 

Behind the English bill and bow, 
The mercenaries, firm and slow, 



CANTO IV. THE LAST MINSTREL. 110 

Moved on to fight, in dark array, 
By Conrad led of Wolfenstein, 
Who brought the band from distant Rhine, 

And sold their blood for foreign pay ; 
The camp their home, their law the sword, 
They knew no country, owned no lord. 
They were not armed like England's sons, 
But bore the levin-darting guns ; 
Buff coats, all frounced and 'broidered o'er, 
And morsing-horns* and scarfs they wore; 
Each better knee was bared, to aid 
The warriors in the escalade ; 
All, as they marched, in rugged tongue, 
Songs of Teutonic feuds they sung, 

XIX. 

But louder still the clamour grew, 
And louder still the minstrels blew, 

* Powder-flasks, 



120 THE LAY OF CANTO IV. 

When, from beneath the greenwood tree, 

Rode forth Lord Howard's chivalry ; 

His men at arms, with glaive and spear, 

Brought up the battle's glittering rear. 

There many a youthful knight, full keen 

To gain his spurs, in arms was seen ; 

With favour in his crest, or glove, 

Memorial of his ladye-love. 

So rode they forth in fair array, 

Till full their lengthened lines display ; 

Then called a halt, and made a stand, 

And cried, " St George, for merry England V* 

XX. 

Now every English eye, intent, 

On Branksome's armed towers was bent : 

So near they were, that they might know 

The straining harsh of each cross-bow; 

On battlement and bartizan 

Gleamed axe, and spear, and partizan ; 



CANTO IV. THE LAST MINSTREL. 121 

Falcon and culver, * on each tower, 
Stood prompt their deadly hail to shower ; 
And flashing armour frequent broke 
From eddying whirls of sable smoke, 
Where, upon tower and turret head, 
The seething pitch and molten lead 
Reeked, like a witch's cauldron red. 
While yet they gaze, the bridges fall, - 

The wicket opes, and from the wall 
Rides forth the hoary Seneschal. 

XXI. 

Armed he rode, all save the head, 

His white beard o'er his breast-plate spread ; 

Unbroke by age, erect his seat, 

He ruled his eager courser's gait ; 

Forced him, with chasten'd fire, to prance, 

And, high curvetting, slow advance : 

* Ancient pieces of artillery. 



122 THE LAY OF CANTO IV. 

In sign of truce, his better hand 
Displayed a peeled willow wand; 
His squire, attending in the rear, 
Bore high a gauntlet on a spear. 
When they espied him riding out. 
Lord Howard and Lord Dacre stout 
Sped to the front of their array, 
To hear what this old knight should say. 

XXII. 
" Ye English warden lords, of you 
Demands the Ladye of Buccleuch, 
Why, 'gainst the truce of Border-tide, 
In hostile guise ye dare to ride, 
With Kendal bow, and Gilsland brand, 
And all yon mercenary band, 
Upon the bounds of fair Scotland? 
My Ladye reads you swith return ; 
And, if but one poor straw you burn, 
Or do our towers so much molest, 
As scare one swallow from her nest, 



CANTO IV. THE LAST MINSTREL. 123 

St Mary ! but we'll light a brand, 

Shall warm your hearths in Cumberland." — 

XXIII. 
A wrathful man was Dacre's lord, 
But calmer Howard took the word :— 
w May't please thy dame, Sir Seneschal, 
To seek the castle's outward wall, 
Our pursuivant-at-arms shall shew, 
Both why we came, and when we go."— 
The message sped, the noble Dame 
To the wall's outward circle came ; 
Each chief around leaned on his spear, 
To see the pursuivant appear. 
All in Lord Howard's livery dressed, 
The Hon argent decked his breast ; 
He led a boy of blooming hue — 
O sight to meet a mother's view ! 
It was the heir of great Buccleuch. 
Obeisance meet the herald made, 
And thus his master's will he said. 



124 THE LAY OF canto iv, 

XXIV. 

" It irks, high Dame, my noble Lords, 
'Gainst ladye fair to draw their swords ; 
But yet they may not tamely see, 
All through the western wardenry, 
Your law-contemning kinsmen ride, 
And burn and spoil the Border-side ; 
And ill beseems your rank and birth 
To make your towers a flemens-firth.* 
We claim from thee William of Deloraine, 
That he may suffer march-treason pain:f 
It was but last St Cuthbert's even 
He pricked to Stapleton on Leven, 
Harried J the lands of Richard Musgrave, 
And slew his brother by dint of glaive. 
Then, since a lone and widowed Dame 
These restless riders may not tame, 

* An asylum for outlaws. t Border treason. 

t Plundered. 



CANTO IV. THE LAST MINSTREL. 125 

Either receive within thy towers 

Two hundred of my master's powers, 

Or straight they sound their warrison, * 

And storm and spoil thy garrison : 

And this fair boy, to London led, 

Shall good King Edward's page be bred." — 

XXV. 

He ceased — and loud the boy did cry, 
And stretched his little arms on high ; 
Implored for aid each well-known face, 
And strove to seek the Dame's embrace. 
A moment changed that Ladye's cheer, 
Gushed to her eye the unbidden tear ; 
She gazed upon the leaders round, 
And dark and sad each warrior frowned ; 
Then, deep within her sobbing breast 
She locked the struggling sigh to rest ; 

* Note of assault. 
I 



126 THE LAY OF CANTO IV. 

Unaltered and collected stood, 

And thus replied, in dauntless mood :— 

XXVL 

« Say to your Lords of high emprize, 

Who war on women and on boys, 

That either William of Deloraine 

Will cleanse him, by oath, of march-treason stain s 

Or else he will the combat take 

'Gainst Musgrave, for his honour's sake. 

No knight in Cumberland so good. 

But William may count with him kin and blood. 

Knighthood he took of Douglas' sword, 

When English blood swelled Ancram ford ; 

And but that Lord Dacre's steed was wight, 

And bare him ably in the flight, 

Himself had seen him dubbed a knight. 

For the young heir of Branksome's line, 

God be his aid, and God be mine ; 



CANTO IV. THE LAST MINSTREL. 127 

Through me no friend shall meet his doom ; 
Here, while I live, no foe finds room. 
Then, if thy Lords their purpose urge, 

Take our defiance loud and high : 
Our slogan is their lyke-wake* dirge, 

Our moat, the grave where they shall lie." — • 

XXVII. 

Proud she looked round, applause to claim — 
Then lightened Thirlestane's eye of flame, 

His bugle Watt of Harden blew ; 
Pensils and pennons wide were flung, 
To heaven the Border slogan rung, 

" St Mary for the young Buccleuch !" 
The English war-cry answered wide, 

And forward bent each southern spear ; 
Each Kendal archer made a stride, 

* Lyke-wake, the watching a corpse previous to interment, 



128 THE LAY OF CANTO IV. 

And drew the bow-string to his ear; 
Each minstrel's war-note loud was blown; — 
But, ere a grey-goose shaft had flown, 

A horseman galloped from the rear. 

XXVIII. 

" Ah ! noble Lords !" he, breathless, said, 
" What treason has your march betrayed ? 
What make you here, from aid so far, 
Before you walls, around you war ? 
Your foemen triumph in the thought, 
That in the toils the lion's caught. 
Already on dark Ruber slaw 
The Douglas holds his weapon-schaw ;* 
The lances, waving in his train, 
Clothe the dun heath like autumn grain ; 
And on the Liddle's northern strand, 
To bar retreat to Cumberland, 

* Weapon-schazv, the military array of a county. 



CANTO IV. THE LAST MINSTREL. 129 

Lord Maxwell ranks his merry- uien good, 
Beneath the eagle and the rood; 
And Jedwood, Eske, and Teviotdale, 

Have to proud Angus come ; 
And all the Merse and Lauderdale 
Have risen with haughty Home. 
An exile from Northumberland, 

In Liddesdale f've wandered long ; 
But still my heart was with merry England, 
And cannot brook my country's wrong ; 
And hard I've spurred all night, to shew 
The mustering of the coming foe." — 

XXIX. 

" And let them come J" fierce Dacre cried ; 
" For soon yon crest, my father's pride, 
That swept the shores of Judah's sea, 
And waved in gales of Galilee, 
From Branksomes highest towers displayed, 
Shall mock the rescue's lingering aid ! — 
i 



130 THE LAY OF CANTO IV. 

Level each harquebuss on row ; 
Draw, merry archers, draw the bow ; 
Up, bill-men, to the walls, and cry, 
Dacre for England, win or die !" — 

XXX. 

" Yet hear," quoth Howard, " calmly hear, 

Nor deem my words the words of fear : 

For who, in field or foray slack, 

Saw the blanche lion e'er fall back ? 

But thus to risque our Border flower 

In strife against a kingdom's power, 

Ten thousand Scots 'gainst thousands three, 

Certes, were desperate policy. 

Nay, take the terms the Ladye made, 

Ere conscious of the advancing aid : 

Let Musgrave meet fierce Deloraine 

In single fight, and if he gain, 

He gains for us \ but if he's crossed, 

'Tis but a single warrior lost : 



CANTO IV. THE LAST MINSTREL. 131 

The rest, retreating as they came, 
Avoid defeat, and death, and shame." — 

XXXI. 

Ill could the haughty Dacre brook 
His brother-warden's sage rebuke : 
And yet his forward step he staid, 
And slow and sullenly obeyed. 
But ne'er again the Border side 
Did these two lords in friendship ride ; 
And this slight discontent, men say, 
Cost blood upon another day. 

XXXII. 

The pursuivant-at-arms again 

Before the castle took his stand ; 
His trumpet called, with parleying strain, 

The leaders of the Scottish band ; 
And he defied, in Musgrave's right, 
Stout Deloraine to single fight ; 



132 THE LAY OF CANTO IV. 

A gauntlet at their feet he laid, 

And thus the terms of fight he said : — 

" If in the lists good Musgrave's sword 

Vanquish the knight of Deloraine, 
Your youthful chieftain, Branksome's lord, 

Shall hostage for his clan remain : 
If Deloraine foil good Musgrave, 
The boy his liberty shall have. 

Howe'er it falls, the English band, 
Unharming Scots, by Scots unharmed, 
In peaceful march, like men unarmed, 

Shall straight retreat to Cumberland." 

XXXIII. 

Unconscious of the near relief, 

The proffer pleased each Scottish chief, 

Though much the Ladye sage gainsayed ; 
For though their hearts were brave and true, 
From Jedwood's recent sack they knew, 

How tardy was the regent's aid : 



CANTO IV. THE LAST MINSTREL. 133 

And you may guess the noble Dame 

Durst not the secret prescience own, 
Sprung from the art she might not name. 

By which the coming help was known, 
Closed was the compact, and agreed, 
That lists should be inclosed with speed, 

Beneath the castle, on a lawn : 
They fixed the morrow for the strife, 
On foot, with Scottish axe and knife, 

At the fourth hour from peep of dawn ; 
When Deloraine, from sickness freed, 
Or else a champion in his stead, 
Should for himself and chieftain stand, 
Against stout Musgrave, hand to hand. 

XXXIV. 

I know right well, that, in their lay, 
Full many minstrels sing and say, 

Such combat should be made on horse, 



134 THE LAY OF CANTO IV. 

On foaming steed, in full career, 
With brand to aid, when as the spear 

Should shiver in the course : 
But he, the jovial Harper, taught 
Me, yet a youth, how it was fought, 

In guise which now I say ; 
He knew each ordinance and clause 
Of black Lord Archibald's battle laws, 

In the old Douglas' day. 
He brooked not, he, that scoffing tongue 
Should tax his minstrelsy with wrong, 

Or call his song untrue : 
For this, when they the goblet plied, 
And such rude taunt had chafed his pride, 

The bard of Reull he slew. 
On Teviot's side* in fight they stood, 
And tuneful hands were stained with blood ; 
Where still the thorn's white branches wave,, 
Memorial o'er his rival's grave. 



CANTO IV. THE LAST MINSTREL. 135 

XXXV. 

Why should I tell the rigid doom, 
That dragged my master to his tomb ; 

How Ousenam's maidens tore their hair, 
Wept till their eyes were dead and dim, 
And wrung their hands for love of him, 

Who died at Jedwood Air ? 
He died ! — his scholars, one by one, 
To the cold silent grave are gone ; 
And I, alas ! survive alone, 
To muse o'er rivalries of yore, 
And grieve that I shall hear no more 
The strains, with envy heard before ; 
For, with my minstrel brethren fled, 
My jealousy of song is dead. 



He paused : the listening dames again 
Applaud the hoary MinstrePs strain. 



136 THE LAY OF CANTO IV. 

With many a word of kindly cheer, — 
In pity half, and half sincere, — 
, Marvelled the Duchess how so well 
His legendary song could tell — 
Of ancient deeds, so long forgot ; 
Of feuds, whose memory was not ; 
Of forests, now laid waste and bare ; 
Of towers, which harbour now the hare ; 
Of manners, long since changed and gone ; 
Of chiefs, who under their gray stone 
So long had slept, that fickle Fame 
Had blotted from her rolls their name, 
And twined round some new minion's head 
The fading wreath for which they bled ; 
In sooth, 'twas strange, this old man's verse 
Could call them from their marble hearse. 

The Harper smiled, well-pleased ; for ne'er 
Was flattery lost on poet's ear : 
A simple race ! they waste their toil 
For the vain tribute of a smile ; 



CANTO IV. THE LAST MINSTREL. 137 

E'en when in age their flame expires, 
Her dulcet breath can fan its fires : 
Their drooping fancy wakes at praise, 
And strives to trim the short-lived blaze. 

Smiled then, well pleased, the Aged Man, 
And thus his tale continued ran. 



THE 

LAY 

OF 

THE LAST MINSTREL. 



CANTO FIFTH. 



THE 



LAY OF THE LAST MINSTREL. 

CANTO FIFTH. 



I. 

Call it not vain : — they do not err, 
Who say, that, when the Poet dies, 

Mute Nature mourns her worshipper, 
And celebrates his obsequies ; 

Who say, tall cliff, and cavern lone, 

For the departed bard make moan ; 

That mountains weep in crystal rill; 

That flowers in tears of balm distil ; 



142 THE LAY OF CANTO V. 

Through his loved groves that breezes sigh, 
And oaks in deeper groan reply ; 
And rivers teach their rushing wave 



To murmur dirges round his 



grave. 



II. 

Not that, in sooth, o'er mortal urn 
Those things inanimate can mourn ; 
But that the stream, the wood, the gale, 
Is vocal with the plaintive wail 
Of those, who, else forgotten long, 
Lived in the poet's faithful song, 
And, with the poet's parting breath, 
Whose memory feels a second death. 
The maid's pale shade, who wails her lot, 
That love, true love, should be forgot, 
From rose and hawthorn shakes the tear 
Upon the gentle minstrel's bier : 
The phantom knight, his glory fled, 
Mourns o'er the field he heaped with dead ; 



CANTO V. THE LAST MINSTREL. 143 



Mounts the wild blast that sweeps amain, 

And shrieks along the battle-plain : 

The chief, whose antique crown let long 

Still sparkled in the feudal song, 

Now, from the mountain's misty throne, 

Sees, in the thanedom once his own, 

His ashes undistinguished lie, 

His place, his power, his memory die : 

His groans the lonely caverns fill, 

His tears of rage impel the rill ; 

All mourn the minstrel's harp unstrung, 

Their name unknown, their praise unsung. 

III. 

Scarcely the hot assault was staid, 

The terms of truce were scarcely made, 

When they could spy, from Branksome's towers, 

The advancing march of martial powers ; 

Thick clouds of dust afar appeared, 

And trampling steeds were faintly heard ; 



144 THE LAY OF CANTO V. 

Bright spears, above the columns dun,, 

Glanced momentary to the sun ; 

And feudal banners fair displayed 

The bands that moved to Branksome's aid. 

IV. 

Vails not to tell each hardy clan, 

From the fair Middle Marches came ; 
The Bloody Heart blazed in the van, 

Announcing Douglas, dreaded name ! 
Vails not to tell what steeds did spurn, 
Where the Seven Spears of Wedderburne 

Their men in battle-order set ; 
And Swinton laid the lance in rest, 
That tamed of yore the sparkling crest 

Of Clarence's Plantagenet. 

Nor list, I say, what hundreds more, 

From the rich Merse and Lammermore, 

And Tweed s fair borders, to the war, 
10 



CANTO V. THE LAST MINSTREL. 145 

Beneath the crest of old Dunbar, 

And Hepburn's mingled banners come, 

Down the steep mountain glittering far, 
And shouting still, " A Home ! a Home V 

V. 

Now squire and knight, from Branksome sent, 

On many a courteous message went ; 

To every chief and lord they paid 

Meet thanks for prompt and powerful aid ; 

And told them, — how a truce was made, 

And how a day of fight was ta'en 

'Twixt Musgrave and stout Deloraine ; 
And how the Ladye prayed them dear, 

That all would stay the fight to see, 

And deign, in love and courtesy, 
To taste of Branksome cheer. 
Nor, while they bade to feast each Scot, 
Were England's noble Lords forgot ; 



146 THE LAY OF CANTO V. 

Himself, the hoary Seneschal, 
Rode forth, in seemly terms to call 
Those gallant foes to Branksome Hall. 
Accepted Howard, than whom knight 
Was never dubbed, more bold in fight ; 
Nor, when from war and armour free, 
More famed for stately courtesy : 
But angry Dacre rather chose 
In his pavilion to repose. 

VI. 

Now, noble Dame, perchance you ask, 
How these two hostile armies met ? 

Deeming it were no easy task 

To keep the truce which here was set ; 

Where martial spirits, all on fire, 

Breathed only blood and mortal ire. — 

By mutual inroads, mutual blows, 

By habit, and by nation, foes, 



CANTO V. THE LAST MINSTREL, 147 

They met on Teviot's strand : 
They met, and sate them mingled down, 
Without a threat, without a frown, 
As brothers meet in foreign land : 
The hands, the spear that lately grasped, 
Still in the mailed gauntlet clasped, 

Were interchanged in greeting dear 5 
Visors were raised, and faces shewn, 
And many a friend, to friend made known, 

Partook of social cheer. 
Some drove the jolly bowl about ; 

With dice and draughts some chased the day 5 
And some, with many a merry shout, 
In riot, revelry, and rout, 

Pursued the foot-ball play. 

VII. 

Yet, be it known, had bugles blown. 
Or sign of war been seen, 



148 THE LAY OF CANTO V. 

Those bands, so fair together ranged, 
Those hands, so frankly interchanged, 

Had dyed with gore the green : 
The merry shout by Teviot-side 
Had sunk in war-cries wild and wide, 

And in the groan of death ; 
And whingers, * now in friendship bare, 
The social meal to part and share, 

Had found a bloody sheath. 
'Twixt truce and war, such sudden change 
Was not unfrequent, nor held strange, 

In the old Border-day : 
But yet on Branksome's towers and town, 
In peaceful merriment, sunk down 

The sun's declining ray. 

VIII. 

The blithesome signs of wassel gay 
Decayed not with the dying day ; 

* A sort of knife, or poniard. 



CANTO V. THE LAST MINSTREL. 149 

Soon through the latticed windows tall 
Of lofty Branksome's lordly hall, 
Divided square by shafts of stone, 
Huge flakes of ruddy lustre shone ; 
Nor less the gilded rafters rang 
With merry harp and beakers' clang : 

And frequent, on the darkening plain, 
Loud hollo, whoop, or whistle ran, 

As bands, their stragglers to regain, 

Give the shrill watch- word of their clan ; 
And revellers, o'er their bowls, proclaim 
Douglas or Dacre's conquering name. 

IX. 

Less frequent heard, and fainter still, 
At length the various clamours died ; 

And you might hear, from Branksome hill, 
No sound but Teviot's rushing tide ,* 

Save, when the changing centinel 

The challenge of his watch could tell ; 



150 THE LAY OF CANTO V. 

And save, where, through the dark profound, 
The clanging axe and hammer's sound 

Rung from the nether lawn ; 
For many a busy hand toiled there, 
Strong pales to shape, and beams to square, 
The lists' dread barriers to prepare 

Against the morrow's dawn. 

X. 

Margaret from hall did soon retreat, 
Despite the Dame's reproving eye; 

Nor marked she, as she left her seat, 
Full many a stifled sigh : 

For many a noble warrior strove 

To win the Flower of Teviot's love, 
And many a bold ally.— 

With throbbing head and anxious heart, 

All in her lonely bower apart, 



CANTO V. THE LAST MINSTREL. 151 

In broken sleep she lay : 
By times, from silken couch she rose ; 
While yet the bannered hosts repose, 

She viewed the dawning day : 
Of all the hundreds sunk to rest, 
First woke the loveliest and the best, 

XL 

She gazed upon the inner court, 

Which in the tower's tall shadow lay ; 
Where coursers' clang, and stamp, and snort, 

Had rung the live-long yesterday \ 
Now still as death ; till, stalking slow, — - 

The jingling spurs announced his tread, — 
A stately warrior passed below ; 

But when he raised his plumed head — 
Blessed Mary ! cau it be ? — 
Secure, as if in Ousenam bowers, 
He walks through Branksome's hostile towers, 

With fearless step and free. 



152 THE LAY OF CANTO V. 

She dared not sign, she dared not speak — 
Oh ! if one page's slumbers break, 

His blood the price must pay ! 
Not all the pearls Queen Mary wears, 
Not Margaret's yet more precious tears, 

Shall buy his life a day. 

XII. 

Yet was his hazard small ; for well 
You may bethink you of the spell 

Of that sly urchin Page ; 
This to his lord he did impart, 
And made him seem, by glamour art, 

A knight from Hermitage. 
Unchallenged, thus, the warder's post, 
The court, unchallenged, thus he crossed. 

For all the vassalage : 
But, O ! what magic's quaint disguise 
Could blind fair Margaret's azure eyes I 



CANTO V. THE LAST MINSTREL. 153 

She started from her seat ; 
While with surprise and fear she strove, 
And both could scarcely master love — 
Lord Henry's at her feet. 

XIII. 

Oft have I mused, what purpose bad 
That foul malicious urchin had 

To bring this meeting round ; 
For happy love's a heavenly sight, 
And by a vile malignant sprite 

In such no joy is found ; 
And oft I've deemed, perchance he thought 
Their erring passion might have wrought 

Sorrow, and sin, and shame ; 
And death to Cranstoun's gallant Knight^ 
And to the gentle Ladye bright, 

Disgrace, and loss of fame. 
But earthly spirit could not tell 
The heart of them that loved so well. 



154 THE LAY OF CANTO V. 

True love's the gift which God has given 
To man alone beneath the heaven. 

It is not fantasy's hot fire, 

Whose wishes, soon as granted, fly ; 

It liveth not in fierce desire, 

With dead desire it doth not die ; 
It is the secret sympathy, 
The silver link, the silken tie, 
Which heart to heart, and mind to mind, 
In body and in soul can bind. — 
Now leave we Margaret and her Knight, 
To tell you of the approaching fight. 

XIV. 

Their warning blast the bugles blew, 

The pipe's shrill port # aroused each clan; 

In haste, the deadly strife to view, 
The trooping warriors eager ran : 

Thick round the lists their lances stood, 

Like blasted pines in Ettricke wood ; 

* A martial piece of music, adapted to the bagpipes. 



CANTO V. THE LAST MINSTREL. 155 

To Branksome many a look they threw. 
The combatants' approach to view, 
And bandied many a word of boast, 
About the knight each favoured most. 

XV. 
Meantime full anxious was the Dame ; 
For now arose disputed claim, 
Of who should fight for Deloraine, 
'Twixt Harden and 'twixt Thirlestaine : 
They 'gan to reckon kin and rent, 
And frowning brow on brow was bent ; 

But yet not long the strife —for, lo ! 
Himself, the Knight of Deloraine, 
Strong, as it seemed, and free from pain, 
In armour sheathed from top to toe, 
Appeared, and craved the combat due. 
The Dame her charm successful knew,* 
And the fierce chiefs their claims withdrew. 
* See p. 90. Stanza XXIII. 



156 THE LAY OF CANTO V. 

xvr. 

When for the lists they sought the plain, 
The stately Ladye's silken rein 

Did noble Howard hold ; 
Unarmed by her side he walked, 
And much, in courteous phrase, they talked 

Of feats of arms of old. 
Costly his garb — his Flemish ruff 
Fell o'er his doublet, shaped of buff, 

With satin slashed, and lined ; 
Tawny his boot, and gold his spur 
His cloak was all of Poland fur, 

His hose with silver twined ; 
His Bilboa blade, by Marchmen felt, 
Hung in a broad and studded belt ; 
Hence, in rude phrase, the Borderers still 
Called noble Howard, Belted Will 

XVIL 

Behind Lord Howard and the Dame, 
Fair Margaret on her palfrey came, 



CANTO V. THE LAST MINSTREL 157 

Whose foot-cloth swept the ground 
White was her wimple, and her veil, 
And her loose locks a chaplet pale 

Of whitest roses bound ; 
The lordly Angus, by her side, 
In courtesy to cheer her tried; 
Without his aid, her hand in vain 
Had strove to guide her broidered rein. 
He deemed, she shuddered at the sight 
Of warriors met for mortal fight ; 
But cause of terror, all unguessed, 
Was fluttering in her gentle breast, 
When, in their chairs of crimson placed, 
The Dame and she the barriers graced. 

XVIII. 

Prize of the field, the young Buccleuch, 
An English knight led forth to view; 
Scarce rued the boy his present plight, 
So much he longed to see the fight. 



158 THE LAY OF CANTO V. 

Within the lists, in knightly pride, 
High Home and haughty Dacre ride ; 
Their leading staffs of steel they wield, 
As marshals of the mortal field ; 
While to each knight their care assigned 
Like vantage of the sun and wind. 
Then heralds hoarse did loud proclaim, 
In king and queen, and warden's name, 

That none, while lasts the strife, 
Should dare, by look, or sign, or word, 
Aid to a champion to afford, 

On peril of his life ; 
And not a breath the silence broke, 
Till thus the alternate Heralds spoke : — 

XIX. 

dfcnglteg Iterant* 

Here standeth Richard of Musgrave, 
Good knight and true, and freely born, 

Amends from Deloraine to crave, 
For foul despiteous scathe and scorn. 



GANTO V. THE LAST MINSTREL. 159 

He sayeth, that William of Deloraine 

Is traitor false by Border laws ; 
This with his sword he will maintain, 

So help him God, and his good cause ! 

XX, 

Here standeth William of Deloraine* 
Good knight and true, of noble strain, 
Who sayeth, that foul treason's stain, 

Since he bore arms, ne'er soiled his coat; 
And that, so help him God above, 
He will on Musgrave's body prove, 
He lies most foully in his throat. 

3lori» SDatre* 

Forward, brave champions, to the fight ! 
Sound trumpets ! 

3lorti ^ome* 

" God defend the right !" 

Then, Teviot ! how thine echoes rang, 

When bugle-sound and trumpet-clang 
§ 



160 THE LAY OF CANTO V. 

Let loose the martial foes, 
And in mid list, with shield poised high, 
And measured step and wary eye, 

The combatants did close. 

XXL 

111 would it suit your gentle ear, 

Ye lovely listeners, to hear 

How to the axe the helms did sound, 

And blood poured down from many a wound 5 

For desperate was the strife and long, 

And either warrior fierce and strong. 

But, were each dame a listening knight, 

I well could tell how warriors fight ; 

For I have seen war's lightning flashing, 

Seen the claymore with bayonet clashing, 

Seen through red blood the war-horse dashing, 

And scorned, amid the reeling strife, 

To yield a step for death or life. 



CANTO V. THE LAST MINSTREL. 161 

'Tis done, 'tis done ! that fatal blow 
Has stretched him on the bloody plain ; 

He strives to rise — Brave Musgrave, no ! 
Thence never shalt thou rise again ! 

He chokes in blood — some friendly hand 

Undo the visor's barred band, 

Unfix the gorget's iron clasp, 

And give him room for life to gasp ! — 

O, bootless aid ! — haste, holy Friar, 

Haste, ere the sinner shall expire ! 

Of all his guilt let him be shriven, 

And smooth his path from earth to heaven ! 

XXIII. 

In haste the holy Friar sped ; — 
His naked foot was dyed with red, 

As through the lists he ran ; 
Unmindful of the shouts on high, 
That hailed the conqueror's victory, 

He raised the dying man ; 



162 THE LAY OF CANTO V. 

Loose waved his silver beard and hair, 
As o'er him he kneeled down in prayer ; 
And still the crucifix on high 
He holds before his darkening eye ; 
And still he bends an anxious ear, 
His faultering penitence to hear ; 

Still props him from the bloody sod, 
Still, even when soul and body part, 
Pours ghostly comfort on his heart, 

And bids him trust in God ! 
Unheard he prays ; — the death-pang's o'er !-— 
Richard of Musgrave breathes no more. 

XXIV. 

As if exhausted in the fight, 
Or musing o'er the piteous sight, 

The silent victor stands ; 
His beaver did he not unclasp, 
Marked not the shouts, felt not the grasp 

Of gratulating hands. 



CANTO V. THE LAST MINSTREL. 1QS 

When lo ! strange cries of wild surprise, 
Mingled with seeming terror, rise 

Among the Scottish bands ; 
And all, amid the thronged array, 
In panic haste gave open way 
To a half-naked ghastly man, 
Who downward from the castle ran : 
He crossed the barriers at a bound, 

And wild and hagard looked around, 
As dizzy, and in pain ; 

And all, upon the armed ground, 
Knew William of Deloraine ! 
Each ladye sprung from seat with speed ; 
Vaulted each marshal from his steed ; 

" And who art thou," they cried, 
" Who hast this battle fought and won ?" 
His plumed helm was soon undone — 

" Cranstoun of Teviot-side ! 
For this fair prize I've fought and won,"— 
And to the Ladye led her son. 



164 THE LAY OF CANTO v. 

XXV. 

Full oft the rescued boy she kissed, 
And often pressed him to her breast ; 
For, under all her dauntless show, 
Her heart had throbbed at every blow ; 
Yet not Lord Cranstoun deigned she greet, 
Though low he kneeled at her feet. 
Me lists not tell what words were made, 
What Douglas, Home, and Howard said — 

— For Howard was a generous foe — 
And how the clan united prayed, 

The Ladye would the feud forego, 
And deign to bless the nuptial hour 
Of Cranstoun's Lord and Teviot's Flower. 

XXVI. 

She looked to river, looked to hill, 
Thought on the Spirit's prophecy, 

Then broke her silence stern and still, — 
" Not you, but Fate, has vanquished me ; 



CANTO v. THE LAST MINSTREL. 165 

Their influence kindly stars may shower 
On Teviot's tide and Branksome's tower, 

For pride is quelled, and love is free." 
She took fair Margaret by the hand, 
Who, breathless, trembling, scarce might stand ; 

That hand to Cranstoun's lord gave she : — 
" As I am true to thee and thine, 
Do thou be true to me and mine ! 

This clasp of love our bond shall be ; 
For this is your betrothing day, 
And all these noble lords shall stay, 

To grace it with their company." — 

XXVII. 

All as they left the listed plain, 
Much of the story she did gain ; 
How Cranstoun fought with Deloraine, 
And of his Page, and of the Book 
Which from the wounded knight he took ; 



166 THE LAY OF CANTO V. 

And how he sought her castle high, 

That morn, by help of gramarye ; 

How, in Sir William's armour dight, 

Stolen by his Page, while slept the knight, 

He took on him the single fight. 

But half his tale he left unsaid, 

And lingered till he joined the maid. — 

Cared not the Ladye to betray 

Her mystic arts in view of day ; 4 

But well she thought, ere midnight came, 

Of that strange Page the pride to tame, 

From his foul hands the Book to save, 

And send it back to Michael's grave. — 

Needs not to tell each tender word 

'Twixt Margaret and 'twixt Cranstoun's lord ; 

Nor how she told of former woes, 

And how her bosom fell and rose, 

While he and Musgrave bandied blows. — 

Needs not these lovers' joys to tell ; 

One day, fair maids, you'll know them well. 



CANTO V. THE LAST MINSTREL. 167 

XXVIII. 

William of Deloraine, some chance 
Had wakened from his deathlike trance ; 

And taught that, in the listed plain, 
Another, in his arms and shield, 
Against fierce Musgrave axe did wield, 

Under the name of Deloraine. 
Hence, to the field, unarmed, he ran, 
And hence his presence scared the clan, 
Who held him for some fleeting wraith,* 
And not a man of blood and breath. 
Not much this new ally he loved, 
Yet, when he saw what hap had proved, 

He greeted him right heartilie : 
He would not waken old debate, 
For he was void of rancorous hate, 
Though rude, and scant of courtesy j 
In raids he spilt but seldom blood, 
Unless when men at arms withstood, 

* The spectral apparition of a living person. 



168 THE LAY OF CANTO V. 

Or, as was meet, for deadly feud. 
He ne'er bore grudge for stalwart blow, 
Ta'en in fair fight from gallant foe : 
And so 'twas seen of him, e'en now, 

When on dead Musgrave he looked down ; 
Grief darkened on his rugged brow, 
Though half disguised with a frown ; 
And thus, while sorrow bent his head, 
His foeman's epitaph he made. 

XXIX. 

" Now, Richard Musgrave, liest thou here ! 

I ween, my deadly enemy ; 
For, if I slew thy brother dear, 

Thou slewest a sister's son to me ; 
And when I lay in dungeon dark, 

Of Naworth Castle, long months three, 
Till ransomed for a thousand mark, 

Dark Musgrave, it was long of thee. 



CANTO V. THE LAST MINSTREL. 169 

And, Musgrave, could our fight be tried, 

And thou wert now alive, as I, 
No mortal man should us divide, 

Till one, or both of us, did die : 
Yet rest thee, God ! for well I know 
I ne'er shall find a nobler foe. 
In all the northern counties here, 
Whose word is, Snafle, spur, and spear, * 
Thou wert the best to follow gear. 
'Twas pleasure, as we looked behind, 
To see how thou the chase couldst wind, 
Cheer the dark blood-hound on his way, 
And with the bugle rouse the fray ! 
I'd give the lands of Deloraine, 
Dark Musgrave were alive again." — 

XXX. 

So mourned he, till Lord Dacre's band 
Were bowning back to Cumberland. 

* The lands, that over Ouse to Berwick forth do bear, 
Have for their blazon had, the snafle, spur, and spear. 

Poly- Albion^ Song xiii, 

$ 



170 THE LAY OF CANTO V. 

They raised brave Musgrave from the field, 
And laid him on his bloody shield ; 
On levelled lances, four and four, 
By turns, the noble burden bore. 
Before, at times, upon the gale, 
Was heard the Minstrel's plaintive wail ; 
Behind, four priests, in sable stole, 
Sung requiem for the warrior's soul : 
Around, the horsemen slowly rode ; 
With trailing pikes the spearmen trod ; 
And thus the gallant knight they bore, 
Through Liddesdale to Leven's shore ; 
Thence to Holme Coltrame's lofty nave, 
And laid him in his father's grave. 



The harp's wild notes, though hushed the song, 
The mimic march of death prolong ; 
Now seems it far, and now a-near, 
Now meets, and now eludes the ear ; 



CANTO V. THE LAST MINSTREL, 171 

Now seems some mountain side to sweep, 
Now faintly dies in valley deep ; 
Seems now as if the MinstrePs wail, 
Now the sad requiem, loads the gale; 
Last, o'er the warrior's closing grave, 
Rung the full choir in choral stave. 

After due pause, they bade him tell, 
Why he, who touched the harp so well, 
Should thus, with ill-rewarded toil, 
Wander a poor and thankless soil, 
When the more generous southern land 
Would well requite his skilful hand. 

The Aged Harper, howsoe'er 
His only friend, his harp, was dear, 
Liked not to hear it ranked so high 
Above his flowing poesy ; 



172 THE LAY, &C. CANTO V. 

Less liked he still, that scornful jeer 
Misprised the land he loved so dear ; 
High was the sound, as thus again 
The Bard resumed his minstrel strain. 



THE 



LAY 



OF 



THE LAST MINSTREL. 



CANTO SIXTH. 



THE 



LAY OF THE LAST MINSTREL. 

CANTO SIXTH. 



I. 

Breathes there the man, with soul so dead, 
Who never to himself hath said, 

This is my own, my native land ! 
Whose heart hath ne'er within him burned, 
As home his footsteps he hath turned, 

From wandering on a foreign strand ! 
If such there breathe, go, mark him well ; 
For him no Minstrel raptures swell ,* 



176 THE LAY OF CANTO VI. 

High though his titles, proud his name, 
Boundless his wealth as wish can claim ; 
Despite those titles, power, and pelf, 
The wretch, concentered all in self, 
Living, shall forfeit fair renown, 
And, doubly dying, shall go down 
To the vile dust, from whence he sprung, 
Unwept, unhonoured, and unsung. 

II. 

O Caledonia ! stern and wild, 

Meet nurse for a poetic child ! 

Land of brown heath and shaggy wood, 

Land of the mountain and the flood, 

Land of my sires ! what mortal hand 

Can e'er untie the filial band, 

That knits me to thv rugged strand ! 

Still, as I view each well-known scene, 

Think what is now, and what hath been, 



CANTO VI. THE LAST MINSTREL, 177 

Seems as, to me, of all bereft, 

Sole friends thy woods and streams were left ; 

And thus I love them better still, 

Even in extremity of ill. 

By Yarrow's stream still let me stray, 

Though none should guide my feeble way ; 
Still feel the breeze down Ettricke break, 
Although it chill my withered cheek ; 
Still lay my head by Teviot stone, 
Though there, forgotten and alone, 
The Bard may draw his parting groan. 

III. 

Not scorned like me ! to Branksome Hall 
The Minstrels came, at festive call ; 
Trooping they came, from near and far, 
The jovial priests of mirth and war ; 
Alike for feast and fight prepared, 
Battle and banquet both they shared. 
Of late, before each martial clan, 
They blew their death-note in the van, 

M 



178 THE LAY OF CANTO VI. 

But now, for every merry mate, 

Rose the portcullis' iron grate ; 

They sound the pipe, they strike the string, 

They dance, they revel., and they sing, 

Till the rude turrets shake and ring, 

IV. 

Me lists not at this tide declare 
The splendour of the spousal rite, 

How mustered in the chapel fair 

Both maid and matron, squire and knight; 

Me lists not tell of owches rare, 

Of mantles green, and braided hair, 

And kirtles furred with miniver ; 

What plumage waved the altar round, 

How spurs, and ringing chainlets, sound : 

And hard it were for bard to speak 

The changeful hue of Margaret's cheek; 

That lovely hue which comes and flies, 

As awe and shame alternate rise. 



CANTO VI. THE LAST MINSTREL. 179 

V. 

Some bards have sung, the Ladye high 
Chapel or altar came not nigh ; 
Nor durst the rites of spousal grace, 
So much she feared each holy place. 
False slanders these : — I trust right well 
She wrought not by forbidden spell : 
For mighty words and signs have power 
O'er sprites in planetary hour : 
Yet scarce I praise their venturous part, 
Who tamper with such dangerous art. 

But this for faithful truth I say, 
The Ladye by the altar stood, 

Of sable velvet her array, 
And on her head a crimson hood, 
With pearls embroidered and entwined, 
Guarded with gold, with ermine lined ; 
A merlin sat upon her wrist, 
Held by a leash of silken twist. 



180 THE LAY OF CANTO VI 

VI. 

The spousal rites were ended soon ; 
'Twas now the merry hour of noon, 
And in the lofty arched hall 
Was spread the gorgeous festival. 
Steward and squire, with heedful haste, 
Marshalled the rank of every guest ; 
Pages, with ready blade, were there, 
The mighty meal to carve and share : 
O'er capon, heron-shew, and crane, 
And princely peacock's gilded train, 
And o'er the boar-head, garnished brave, 
And cygnet from St Mary's wave, 
O'er ptarmigan and venison, 
The priest had spoke his benison. 
Then rose the riot and the din, 
Above, beneath, without, within ! 
For, from the lofty balcony, 
Rung trumpet, shalm, and psaltery .; 



CANTO VI. THE LAST MINSTREL. i 8 l 

Their clanging bowls old warriors quaffed, 
Loudly they spoke, and loudly laughed ; 
Whispered young knights, in tone more mild, 
To ladies fair, and ladies smiled. 
The hooded hawks, high perched on beam, 
The clamour joined with whistling scream, 
And flapped their wings, and shook their bells, 
In concert with the stag-hounds ? yells. 
Round go the flasks of ruddy wine, 
From Bourdeaux, Orleans, or the Rhine ; 
Their tasks the busy sewers ply, 
And all is mirth and revelry. 

VII. 

The Goblin Page, omitting still 

No opportunity of ill, 

Strove now, while blood ran hot and high, 

To rouse debate and jealousy; 

Till Conrad, lord of Wolfenstein, 

By nature fierce, and warm with wine, 



182 THE LAY OF CANTO VI. 

And now in humour highly crossed. 

About some steeds his band had lost, 

High words to words succeeding still, 

Smote, with his gauntlet, stout Hunthill ; 

A hot and hardy Rutherford, 

Whom men call Dickon Draw-the-Sword, 

He took it on the Page's saye, 

Hunthill had driven these steeds away. 

Then Howard, Home, and Douglas rose, 

The kindling discord to compose : 

Stern Rutherford right little said, 

But bit his glove, and shook his head. — 

A fortnight thence, in Inglewood, 

Stout Conrad, cold, and drenched in blood, 

His bosom gored with many a wound, 

Was by a woodman's lyme-dog found 5 

Unknown the manner of his death, 

Gone was his brand, both sword and sheath ; 



CANTO VI. THE LAST MINSTREL. 133 



But ever from that time, 'twas said, 



That Dickon wore a Cologne blade, 



VIII. 

The Dwarf, who feared his master's eye 
Might his foul treachery espie, 
Now sought the castle buttery, 
Where many a yeoman, bold and free, 
Revelled as merrily and well 
As those that sat in lordly selle. 
Watt Tinlinn, there, did frankly raise 
The pledge to Arthur Fire-the- Braes ; 
And he, as by his breeding bound, 
To Howard's merry-men sent it round. 
To quit them, on the English side, 
Red Roland Forster loudly cried, 
" A deep carouse to yon fair bride !" 
At every pledge, from vat and pail, 
Foamed forth, in floods, the nut-brown ale ; 



184 THE LAY OF CANTO VI. 

While shout the riders every one, 
Such day of mirth ne'er cheered their clan, 
Since old Buccleuch the name did gain, 
When in the cleuch the buck was ta'en. 

IX. 

The wily Page, with vengeful thought, 
Remembered him of Tinlinn's yew, 
And swore, it should be dearly bought, 

That ever he the arrow drew. 
First, he the yeoman did molest, 
With bitter gibe and taunting jest ; 
Told, how he fled at Solway strife. 
And how Hob Armstrong cheered his wife : 
Then, shunning still his powerful arm, 
At unawares he wrought him harm ; 
From trencher stole his choicest cheer, 
Dashed from his lips his can of beer ; 
Then, to his knee sly creeping on, 
With bodkin pierced him to the bone : 



CANTO VI. THE LAST MINSTREL. 185 

The venomed wound, and festering joint, 

Long after rued that bodkin's point. 

The startled yeoman swore and spurned, 

And board and flaggons overturned. 

Riot and clamour wild began ; 

Back to the hall the Urchin ran ; 

Took in a darkling nook his post, 

And grinned, and muttered, " Lost ! lost ! lost I" 

X. 

By this, the Dame, lest further fray 
Should mar the concord of the day, 
Had bid the Minstrels tune their lay. 
And first stept forth old Albert Graeme, 
The Minstrel of that ancient name : 
Was none who struck the harp so well, 
Within the Land Debateable ; 
Well friended too, his hardy kin, 
Whoever lost, were sure to win ; 



186 THE LAY OF CANTO VI. 

They sought the beeves, that made their broth, 
In Scotland and in England both. . 
In homely guise, as nature bade, 
His simple song the Borderer said. 

XL 

Albert (Bv&tmt* 

It was an English ladye bright, 

(The sun shines fair on Carlisle wall,) 

And she would marry a Scottish knight, 
For Love will still be lord of all. 

Blithely they saw the rising sun, 

When he shone fair on Carlisle wall. 

But they were sad ere day was done, 
Though Love was still the lord of all. 

Her sire gave brooch and jewel fine, 

Where the sun shines fair on Carlisle wall ; 

Her brother gave but a flask of wine, 
For ire that Love was lord of all. 



CANTO VI. THE LAST MINSTREL. 18? 

For she had lands, both meadow and lea, 
Where the sun shines fair on Carlisle wall, 

And he swore her death, ere he would see 
A Scottish knight the lord of all ! 

XII. 

That wine she had not tasted well, 

(The sun shines fair on Carlisle wall ;) 

When dead, in her true love's arms, she fell, 
For Love was still the lord of all. 

He pierced her brother to the heart, 
Where the sun shines fair on Carlisle wall, 

So perish all, would true love part, 
That Love may still be lord of all ! 

And then he took the cross divine, 

Where the sun shines fair on Carlisle wall, 

And died for her sake in Palestine, 
So Love was still the lord of all. 



188 THE LAY OF CANTO VI. 

Now all ye lovers, that faithful prove, 
(The sun shines fair on Carlisle wall,) 

Pray for their souls who died for love, 
For Love shall still be lord of all ! 

XIII. 

As ended Albert's simple lay, 

Arose a bard of loftier port ; 
For sonnet, rhyme, and roundelay, 

Renowned in haughty Henry's court: 
There rung thy harp, unrivalled long, 
Fitztraver of the silver song 1 

The gentle Surrey loved his lyre — 
Who has not heard of Surrey's fame ? 

His was the hero's soul of fire, 

And his the bard's immortal name, 
And his was love, exalted high 
By all the glow of chivalry. 



CANTO VI. THE LAST MINSTREL. 

XIV. 

They sought, together, climes afar, 

And oft, within some olive grove, 
When evening came, with twinkling star, 

They sung of Surrey's absent love. 
His step the Italian peasant staid, 

And deemed, that spirits from on high, 
Round where some hermit saint was laid, 

Were breathing heavenly melody ; 
So sweet did harp and voice combine, 
To praise the name of Geraldine. 

XV. 

Fitztraver ! O what tongue may say 
The pangs thy faithful bosom knew, 

When Surrey, of the deathless lay, 
Ungrateful Tudor's sentence slew ? 

Regardless of the tyrant's frown, 

His harp called wrath and vengeance down. 



19© THE LAY OF eANTO VI. 

He left, for Naworth's iron towers, 
Windsor's green glades, and courtly bowers, 
And, faithful to his patron's name, 
With Howard still Fitztraver came ; 
Lord William's foremost favourite he, 
And chief of all his minstrelsy. 

XVI. 

'Twas All-soul's eve, and Surrey's heart beat high 

He heard the midnight bell with anxious start, 
Which told the mystic hour, approaching nigh, 

When wise Cornelius promised, by his art, 
To shew to him the ladye of his heart, 

Albeit betwixt them roared the ocean grim ; 
Yet so the sage had hight to play his part, 

That he should see her form in life and limb, 
And mark, if still she loved, and still she thought 
of him. 



CANTO VI. THE LAST MINSTREL. 191 

XVII. 

Dark was the vaulted room of gramarye, 

To which the wizard led the gallant Knight, 
Save that before a mirror, huge and high, 

A hallowed taper shed a glimmering light 
On mystic implements of magic might ; 

On cross, and character, and talisman, 
And almagest, and altar, nothing bright ; 

For fitful was the lustre, pale and wan, 
As watch-light by the bed of some departing man. 

XVIII. 

But soon, within that mirror huge and high, 

Was seen a self-emitted light to gleam ; 
And forms upon its breast the earl 'gan spy, 

Cloudy and indistinct, as feverish dream ; 
Till, slow arranging, and defined, they seem 

To form a lordly and a lofty room, 
Part lighted by a lamp with silver beam, 

Placed by a couch of Agra's silken loom, 
And part by moonshine pale, and part was hid in 
gloom. 



192 THE LAY OF CANTO VI. 

XIX. 

Fair all the pageant — but how passing fair 

The slender form, which lay on couch of Ind ! 
O'er her white bosom strayed her hazel hair, 

Pale her dear cheek, as if for love she pined ; 
All in her night robe loose she lay reclined, 

And, pensive, read from tablet eburnine 
Some strain, that seemed her inmost soul to find : — 

That favoured strain was Surrey's raptured line, 
That fair and lovely form, the Lady Geraldine* 

XX. 

Slow rolled the clouds upon the lovely form, 

And swept the goodly vision all away — 
So royal envy rolled the murky storm 

O'er my beloved Master's glorious day. 
Thou jealous, ruthless tyrant ! Heaven repay 

On thee, and on thy children's latest line, 
The wild caprice of thy despotic sway, 

The gory bridal bed, the plundered shrine, 
The murdered Surrey's blood, the tears of Geraldine ! 

2 



CANTO VI. THE LAST MINSTREL. 193 

XXI. 

Both Scots, and Southern chiefs, prolong 
Applauses of Fitztraver's song : 
These hated Henry's name as death, 
And those still held the ancient faith.— 
Then, from his seat, with lofty air, 
Rose Harold, bard of brave St Clair ; 
St Clair, who, feasting high at Home, 
Had with that lord to battle come. 
Harold was born where restless seas 
Howl round the storm-swept Orcades ; 
Where erst St Clairs held princely sway 
O'er isle and islet, strait and bay ; — 
Still nods their palace to its fall, 
Thy pride and sorrow, fair Kirkwall ! — 
Thence oft he marked fierce Pentland rave, 
As if grim Odinn rode her wave ; 
And watched, the whilst, with visage pale, 
And throbbing heart, the struggling sail ; 
N 



194 THE LAY OF CANTO VI. 

For all of wonderful and wild 
Had rapture for the lonely child. 

XXII. 

And much of wild and wonderful 
In these rude isles might Fancy cull ; 
For thither came, in times afar, 
Stern Lochlin's sons of roving war, 
The Norsemen, trained to spoil and blood, 
Skilled to prepare the raven's food ; 
Kings of the main their leaders brave, 
Their barks the dragons of the wave. 
And there, in many a stormy vale, 
The Scald had told his wondrous tale ; 
And many a Runic column high 
Had witnessed grim idolatry. 
And thus had Harold, in his youth, 
Learned many a Saga's rhyme uncouth, — 
Of that Sea-Snake, tremendous curled, 
Whose monstrous circle girds the world ; 



CANTO VI. THE LAST MINSTREL. 19 B 

Of those dread Maids, whose hideous yeli 

Maddens the battle's bloody swell ; 

Of chiefs, who, guided through the gloom 

By the pale death-lights of the tomb, 

Ransacked the graves of warriors old, 

Their faulchions wrenched from corpses' hold d 

Waked the deaf tomb with war's alarms. 

And bade the dead arise to arms ! 

With war and wonder all on flame, 

To Roslin's bowers young Harold came, 

Where, by sweet glen and greenwood tree, 

He learned a milder minstrelsy ; 

Yet something of the northern spell 

Mixed with the softer numbers well. 

XXIII. 

O listen, listen, ladies gay ! 

No haughty feat of arms I tell ; 

Soft is the note, and sad the lay, 

That mourns the lovely Rosabelle, 
1 



196 THE LAY OF CANTO VI. 

— « Moor, moor the barge, ye gallant crew ! 

And, gentle ladye, deign to stay ! 
Rest thee in Castle Ravensheuch, 

Nor tempt the stormy firth to-day* 

tc The blackening wave is edged with white 5 
To inch* and rock the sea-mews fly; 

The fishers have heard the Water Sprite, 
Whose screams forebode that wreck is nigh* 

" Last night the gifted Seer did view 
A wet shroud swathed round ladye gay ; 

Then stay thee, Fair, in Ravensheuch : 
Wiry cross the gloomy firth to-day ?" 

" 'Tis not because Lord Lindesay's heir 

To-night at Roslin leads the ball, 
But that my ladye-mother there 

Sits lonely in her castle-hall. 

" * Inch, Isle. 



CANTO VI. THE LAST MINSTREL, 197 

" 'Tis not because the ring they ride, 
And Lindesay at the ring rides well, 

But that my sire the wine will chide, 
If 'tis not filled by Rosabelle."— 

O'er Roslin all that dreary night 

A wondrous blaze was seen to gleam ; 

'Twas broader than the watch-fire light, 
And redder than the bright moon-beam. 

It glared on Roslin's castled rock, 
It ruddied all the copse-wood glen ; 

'Twas seen from Dryden's groves of oak, 
And seen from caverned Hawthornden. 

Seemed all on fire that chapel proud, 
Where Roslin's chiefs uncoffined lie ; 

Each Raron, for a sable shroud, 
Sheathed in his iron panoply. 



198 THE LAY OF CANTO VI. 

Seemed all on fire within, around, 

Deep sacristy and altar's pale ; 
Shone every pillar foliage-bound, 

And glimmered all the dead men's mail. 

Blazed battlement and pinnet high, 

Blazed every rose-carved buttress fair — • 

So still they blaze, when fate is nigh 
The lordly line of high St Clair. 

There are twenty of Roslin's barons bold 
Lie buried within that proud chapelle ; 

Each one the holy vault doth hold — 
But the sea holds lovely RosabeUe ! 

And each St Clair was buried there, 

With candle, with book, and with knell ; 

But the sea-caves rung, and the wild winds sung, 
The dirge of lovely RosabeUe. 



CANTO VI. THE LAST MINSTREL. 199 

XXIV. 

So sweet was Harold's piteous lay, 

Scarce marked the guests the darkened hall, 
Though, long before the sinking day, 

A wondrous shade involved them all : 
It was not eddying mist or fog, 
Drained by the sun from fen or bog : 

Of no eclipse had sages told ; 
And yet, as it came on apace, 
Each one could scarce his neighbour's face, 

Could scarce his own stretched hand behold. 
A secret horror checked the feast, 
And chilled the soul of every guest ; 
Even the high Dame stood half aghast, 
She knew some evil on the blast ; 
The elvish Page fell to the ground, 
And, shuddering, muttered, " Found ! found ! 
found !" 



2 00 THE LAY OF CANTO VI. 

XXV. 
Then sudden, through the darkened air 

A flash of lightning came ; 
So broad, so bright, so red the glare. 

The castle seemed on flame. 
Glanced every rafter of the hall, 
Glanced every shield upon the wall; 
Each trophied beam, each sculptured stone, 
Were instant seen, and instant gone ; 
Full through the guests' bedazzled band 
Resistless flashed the levin-brand, 
And filled the hall with smouldering smoke, 
As on the elvish Page it broke. 

It broke, with thunder long and loud, 

Dismayed the brave, appalled the proud, — 
From sea to sea the larum rung ; 

On Berwick wall, and at Carlisle withal, 
To arms the startled warders sprung. 
When ended was the dreadful roar, 
The elvish Dwarf was seen no more ! 



€ANTO VI. THE LAST MINSTREL. 201 

XXVI. 

Some heard a voice in Branksome Hall, 

Some saw a sight, not seen by all ; 

That dreadful voice was heard by some, 

Cry, with loud summons, " Gylbin, come !" 
And on the spot where burst the brand, 

Just where the Page had flung him down, 
Some saw an arm, and some a hand, 
And some the waving of a gown. 

The guests in silence prayed and shook, 

And terror dimmed each lofty look. 

But none of all the astonished train 

Was so dismayed as Deloraine ; 

His blood did freeze, his brain did burn, 

'Twas feared his mind would ne'er return ; 
For he was speechless, ghastly, wan, 
Like him, of whom the story ran, 
Who spoke the spectre-hound in Man.* 
At length, by fits, he darkly told, 
With broken hint, and shuddering cold — 

* The Isle of Man. See Note. 



202 THE LAY OF CANTO VI. 

That he had seen, right certainly, 
A shape with amice wrapped around, 
With a wrought Spanish baldric bound, 

Like pilgrim from beyond the sea ; 
And knew — but how it mattered not — 
It was the wizard, Michael Scott. 

XXVII. 

The anxious crowd, with horror pale, 
All trembling, heard the wondrous tale ; 

No sound was made, no word was spoke,, 

Till noble Angus silence broke; 
And he a solemn sacred plight 

Did to St Bride of Douglas make, 

That he a pilgrimage would take 

To Melrose Abbey, for the sake 
Of Michael's restless sprite. 

Then each, to ease his troubled breast, 

To some blessed saint his prayers addressed ; 



CANTO VI. THE LAST MINSTREL. 20S 

Some to St Modan made their vows, 

Some to St Mary of the Lowes, 

Some to the Holy Rood of Lisle, 

Some to Our Lady of the Isle; 

Each did his patron witness make, 

That he such pilgrimage would take, 

And Monks should sing, and bells should toll, 

All for the weal of Michael's soul. 

While vows were ta'en, and prayers were prayed, 

'Tis said the noble Dame, dismayed, 

Renounced, for aye, dark magic's aid. 

XXVIIL 

Nought of the bridal will I tell, 
Which after in short space befel ; 
Nor how brave sons and daughters fair 

Blessed Teviot's Flower, and Cranstoun's heir 
After such dreadful scene, 'twere vain 
To wake the note of mirth again. 



204 THE LAY OF CANTO VI. 

More meet it were to mark the day 

Of penitence and prayer divine, 
When pilgrim-chiefs, in sad array. 

Sought Melrose' holy shrine. 

XXIX. 

With naked foot, and sackcloth vest, 
And arms enfolded on his breast, 

Did every pilgrim go *, 
The standers-by might hear uneath, 
Footstep, or voice, or high-drawn breath* 

Through all the lengthened row : 
No lordly look, nor martial stride, 
Gone was their glory, sunk their pride* 

Forgotten their renown ; 
Silent and slow, like ghosts, they glide 
To the high altar's hallowed side, 

And there they kneeled them down : 
Above the suppliant chieftains wave 
The banners of departed brave ; 



CANTO VI. THE LAST MINSTREL. 205 

Beneath the lettered stones were laid 
The ashes of their fathers dead ; 
From many a garnished niche around, 
Stern saints, and tortured martyrs, frowned. 

XXX. 

And slow up the dim aisle afar, 
With sable cowl and scapular,, 
And snow-white stoles, in order due, 
The holy Fathers, two and two, 

In long procession came ; 
Taper, and host, and book they bare, 
And holy banner, flourished fair 

With the Redeemer's name : 
Above the prostrate pilgrim band 
The mitred Abbot stretched his hand, 

And blessed them as they kneeled ; 
With holy cross he signed them all, 
And prayed they might be sage in hall, 

And fortunate in field. 



206 THE LAY OF CANTO VI. 

Then mass was sung, and prayers were said, 
And solemn requiem for the dead ; 
And bells tolled out their mighty peal, 
For the departed spirit's weal ; 
And ever in the office close 
The hymn of intercession rose ; 
And far the echoing aisles prolong 
The awful burthen of the song, — 
Dies iR^a, dies illa, 

SOLVET S^CLUM IN FA VILLA ; 

While the pealing organ rung ; 
Were it meet with sacred strain 
To close my lay, so light and vain, 

Thus the holy Fathers sung. 

XXXI. 
^pmtt for tge 3Dea& 

That day of wrath, that dreadful day, 
When heaven and earth shall pass away, 
What power shall be the sinner's stay ? 
How shall he meet that dreadful day ? 



6ANT0 VI. THE LAST MINSTREL. 207 

When, shrivelling like a parched scroll, 
The flaming heavens together roll ; 
When louder yet, and yet more dread, 
Swells the high trump that wakes the dead ! 

Oh ! on that day, that wrathful day, 
When man to judgment wakes from clay, 
Be Thou the trembling sinner's stay, 
Though heaven and earth shall pass away ! 



Hushed is the harp — the Minstrel gone. 

And did he wander forth alone ? 

Alone, in indigence and age, 

To linger out his pilgrimage ? 

No : — close beneath proud Newark's tower, 

Arose the Minstrel's lowly bower ; 

A simple hut ; but there was seen 

The little garden hedged with green, 

The cheerful hearth, and lattice clean. 



208 THE LAY, &C. CANTO VI. 

There sheltered wanderers, by the blaze, 
Oft heard the tale of other days ; 
For much he loved to ope his door, 
And give the aid he begged beforei 
So passed the winter's day ; but still, 
When summer smiled on sweet Bowhill, 
And July's eve, with balmy breath, 
Waved the blue-bells on Newark heath £ 
When throstles sung in Hare-head shaw, 
And corn was green on Carterhaugh, 
And flourished, broad, Blackandro's oak, 
The aged Harper's soul awoke ! 
Then would he sing achievements high, 
And circumstance of chivalry, 
Till the rapt traveller would stay, 
Forgetful of the closing day; 
And noble youths, the strain to hear, 
Forsook the hunting of the deer ; 
And Yarrow, as he rolled along, 
Bore burden to the Minstrel's song. 



NOTES 



NOTES TO CANTO I. 



Note I. 
The feast was over in Branksome tower. — P. 17. 
In the reign of James I. Sir William Scott of Buccleuch, 
chief of the clan bearing that name, exchanged, with Sir Tho- 
mas Inglis of Manor, the estate of Murdiestone, in Lanark- 
shire, for one half of the barony of Branksome, or Branx- 
holm,* lying upon the Teviot, about three miles above Ha- 
wick. He was probably induced to this transaction from the 
vicinity of Branksome to the extensive domain which he pos- 
sessed in Ettricke Forest and in Teviotdale. In the former 
district he held by occupancy the estate of Buccleuch,f and 
much of the forest land on the river Ettricke. In Teviotdale, 
he enjoyed the barony of Eckford, by a grant from Robert II. 

* Branxholm is the proper name of the barony ; but Brank- 
some has been adopted, as suitable to the pronunciation, and 
more proper for poetry. 

+ There are no vestiges of any building at Buccleuch, except 
the scite of a chapel, where, according to a tradition current in 



212 NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 

to his ancestor, Walter Scott of Kirkurd, for the apprehending 
of Gilbert Ridderford, confirmed by Robert III., 3d May, 
1424. Tradition imputes the exchange betwixt Scott and In- 
glis to a conversation, in which the latter, a man, it would ap- 
pear, of a mild and forbearing nature, complained much of 
the injuries which he was exposed to from the English Border- 
ers, who frequently plundered his lands of Branksome. Sir 
William Scott instantly offered him the estate of Murdiestone, 
in exchange for that which was subject to such egregious in- 
convenience. When the bargain was completed, he drily re- 
marked, that the cattle in Cumberland were as good as those 
of Teviotdale ; and proceeded to commence a system of repri- 
sals upon the English, which was regularly pursued by his suc- 
cessors. In the next reign, James II. granted to Sir Walter 
Scott of Branksome, and to Sir David, his son, the remaining 
half of the barony of Branksome, to be held in blanche for the 
payment of a red rose. The cause assigned for the grant is, 
their brave and faithful exertions in favour of the king against 
the house of Douglas, with whom James had been recently 
tugging for the throne of Scotland. This charter is dated the 
2d February, 1443; and, in the same month, part of the ba- 
rony of Langholm, and many lands in Lanarkshire, were con- 
ferred upon Sir Walter and his son by the same monarch. 



the time of Scott of Satchells, many of the ancient barons of 
Buccleuch lie buried. There is also said to have been a mill 
near this solitary spot ; an extraordinary circumstance, as little 
or no corn grows within several miles of Buccleuch. Satchells 
says it was used to grind corn for the hounds of the chieftain. 



NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 2 1S 

After the period of the exchange with Sir Thomas Inglis, 
Branksome became the principal seat of the Buccleuch family. 
The castle was enlarged and strengthened by Sir David Scott, 
the grandson of Sir William, its first possessor. But, in 1570-1, 
the vengeance of Elizabeth, provoked by the inroads of Buc- 
cleuch, and his attachment to the cause of Queen Mary, de- 
stroyed the castle, and laid waste the lands of Branksome. In 
the same year the castle was repaired and enlarged by Sir Wal- 
ter Scott, its brave possessor; but the work was not completed 
until after his death, in 1574, when the widow finished the 
building. This appears from the following inscriptions. Around 
a stone, bearing the arms of Scott of Buccleuch, appears the 
following legend : " %ix WL* Scott of $ranjc|mm JKngt 2?oe 
of Sir aaailliam Scott of fiSir&urti Engt 6egan ge toorfc upon 
W 24 of SParclje 1571 ?ier qufja tiepartft at fitto's pletfout 
ge 17 8pril 1574." On a similar copartment are sculptured 
the arms of Douglas, with this inscription, " Dame Margaret 
Douglas his spous completit the forsaid work in Oc- 
tober 1576." Over an arched door is inscribed the follow- 
ing moral verse : — 

3(iu toarnu i0* noc|)t + nature* t)t8> torouctrt* gat* sal* leisu a?* 
tyatfore, jeettoe* <$olu Beip* fceil* ge* roth tl>z> fame* 8&U notyu 

fcefiag* 
Sit Salter Scot of 2&ran$oIm Mni$u ^arcaret Douglas, 

1571. 



214 NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 

Branksome castle continued to be the principal seat of the 
Buccleuch family, while security was any object in their choice 
of a mansion. It has since been the residence of the Commis- 
sioners, or Chamberlains, of the family. From the various al- 
terations which the building has undergone, it is not only great- 
ly restricted in its dimensions, but retains little of the castella- 
ted form, if we except one square tower of massy thickness, the 
only part of the original building which now remains. The 
whole forms a handsome modern residence, lately inhabited 
by my deceased friend, Adam Ogilvy, Esq. of Hartwoodmyres, 
Commissioner of his Grace the Duke of Buccleuch. 

The extent of the ancient edifice can still be traced by some 
vestiges of its foundation, and its strength is obvious from the 
situation, on a deep bank surrounded by the Teviot, and flank- 
ed by a deep ravine, formed by a precipitous brook. It was 
anciently surrounded by wood, as appears from the survey of 
Roxburghshire, made for Pont's Atlas, and preserved in the 
Advocates' Library. This wood was cut about fifty years ago, 
but is now replaced by the thriving plantations which have been 
formed by the noble proprietor, for miles around the ancient 
mansion of his forefathers. 

Note II. 
Nine-and-twenty knights of fame 
Hung their shields in Branksome Hall. — P. 81. 
The ancient barons of Buccleuch, both from feudal splen- 
dour, and from their frontier situation, retained in their house- 



NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 2 15 

hold, at Branksome, a number of gentlemen of their own 
name, who held lands from their chief, for the military service 
of watching and warding his castle. Satchells tells us, in his 
doggrel poetry, 

No baron was better served into Britain ; 

The barons of Buckleugh they kept their call, 

Four and twenty gentlemen in their hall, 

All being of his name and kin ; 

Each two had a servant to wait upon them j 

Before supper and dinner, most renowned, 

The bells rung and the trumpets sowned ; 

And more than that, I do confess, 

They kept four and twenty pensioners. 

Think not I lie, nor do me blame, 

For the pensioners I can all name : 

There's men alive, elder than I, 

They know if I speak truth, or lie ; 

Every pensioner a room * did gain, 

For service done and to be done ; 

This I'll let the reader understand, 

The name both of the men and land, 

Which they possessed, it is of truth, 

Both from the lairds and lords of Buckleugh. 



Accordingly, dismounting from his Pegasus, Satchells gives 
us, in prose, the names of twenty-four gentlemen, younger bro- 
thers of ancient families, who were pensioners to the house of 
Buccleuch, and describes the lands which each possessed for his 
border service. In time of war with England, the garrison was 

* Room, portion of land. 



216 NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 

doubtless augmented. Satchells adds, f* These twenty-three 
pensioners, all of his own name of Scott, and Walter Glad- 
stanes of Whitelaw, a near cousin of my Lord's, as aforesaid, 
were ready on all occasions, when his honour pleased cause to 
advertise them. It is known to many of the country better than 
it is to me, that the rent of these lands, which the lairds and 
lords of Buccleuch did freely bestow upon their friends, will 
amount to above twelve or fourteen thousand merks a-year." — ■ 
History of the Name of Scott, p. 45. An immense sum in those 
times. 

Note III. 
And with Jedwood-axe at saddle-bow, — P. 19. 
" Of a truth," says Froissart, "the Scottish cannot boast great 
skill with the bow, but rather bear axes, with which, in time of 
need, they give heavy strokes." The Jedwood-axe was a sort of 
partizan, used by horsemen, as appears from the arms of Jed- 
burgh, which bear a cavalier mounted, and armed with this 
weapon. It is also called a Jedwood or Jeddart staff 

Note IV. 
They watch against Southern force and guile, 
Lest Scroope, or Howard, or Percy's powers, 
Threaten Branksome's lordly towers, 
From Warkworth, or Naworth, or merry Carlisle. — P. 20. 
Branksome Castle was continually exposed to the attacks of 
the English, both from its situation and the restless military 



NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 21 y 

disposition of its inhabitants, who were seldom on good terms 
with their neighbours. The following letter from the Earl of 
Northumberland to Henry VIII. in 1533, gives an account of 
a successful inroad of the English, in which the country was 
plundered up to the gates of the castle, although the invaders 
failed in their principal object, which was, to kill, or make pri- 
soner, the laird of Buccleuch. It occurs in the Cotton MS. 
Calig. B. VIII. f. 222. 

" Pleaseth yt your most gracious highnes to be aduertised, 
that my comptroller, with Raynald Carhaby, desyred licence of 
me to invade the realme of Scotland, for the annoysaunce of 
your highnes enemys, where they thought best exploit by 
theyme might be done, and to haue to concur withe theyme 
the inhabitants of Northumberland, suche as was towards me 
according to theyre assembly, and as by theyre discrecions vp- 
pone the same they shulde thinke most convenient ; and soo 
they dyde mete vppon Monday, before nyght, being the iii day 
of this instant monethe, at Wawhope, uppon northe Tyne wa- 
ter, above Tyndaill, where they were to the number of xv c 
men, and soo invadet Scotland, at the hour of viii of the clok 
at nyght, at a place called Whele Causay ; and before xi of the 
clok dyd send forth a forrey of Tyndaill and Ryddisdail, and 
laide all the resydewe in a bushment, and actyvely dyd set 
vpon a towne called Branxholm, where the lord of Buclough 
dwellythe, and purpesed theymeselves with a trayne for hym 
lyke to his accustomed manner, in rysynge to all frayes ; al- 
beit, that knyght he was not at home, and soo they brynt 



218 NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 

the said Branxholm, and other townes, as to say Whichestre* 
Whichestre-helme, and Whelley, and haid ordered theyme- 
self soo, that sundry of the said Lord Buclough's servants, who 
dyd issue fourthe of his gates, was takyn prisoners. They dyd 
not leve one house, one stak of corne, nor one shyef, without 
the gate of the said Lord Buclough vnbrynt ; and thus scry- 
maged and frayed, supposing the Lord of Buclough to be 
within iii or iiii myles to have trayned him to the bushment; 
and soo in the breyking of the day dyd the forrey and the 
bushment mete, and reculed homeward, making theyr way 
westward from theyre invasion to be over Lyddersdaill, as in- 
tending yf the fray frome theyre furst entry by the Scotts 
waiches, or otherwyse by warnyng, shulde haue bene gyven to 
Gedworth and the countrey of Scotland theyreabouts of theyre 
invasion ; whiche Gedworth is from the Wheles Causay vi 
myles, that thereby the Scots shulde have comen further vnto 
theyme, and more out of ordre ; and soo upon sundry good 
consideracons, before they entered Lyddersdaill, as well ac- 
compting the inhabitants of the same to be towards your high- 
ness, and to enforce theyme the more therby, as alsoo to put 
an occasion of suspect to the kinge of Scotts and his counsaill, 
to be taken anenst theyme, amonges theymselves, maid pro- 
clamacions, commanding, vpon payne of dethe, assurance to 
be for the said inhabitants of Lyddersdaill, without any preju- 
dice or hurt to be done by any Inglysman vnto theyme, and 
»oo in good ordre abowte the howre of ten of the clok before 
noon, vppone Tewisday, dyd pass through the said Lyddersdaill, 
5 



NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 219 

when dyd come diverse of the said inhabitants there to my 
servauntes, under the said assurance, offerring theymeselfs with 
any service they couthe make ; and thus, thanks be to Godde, 
your highnes' subjects, abowte the howre of xii of the clok at 
none the same daye, came into this youre highness realme, 
bringing wt theyme above xl Scottsmen prisoners, one of 
theyme named Scot, of the surname and kyn of the said Lord 
of Buclough, and of his howsehold ; they brought alsoo ccc 
nowte, and above lx horses and mares, keping in savetie frome 
losse or hurte all your said highnes subjects. There was alsoo 
a towne, called Newbyggins, by diverse fotmen of Tyndaill 
and Ryddesdaill, takyn vp of the night, and spoyled, when 
was slayne ii Scottsmen of the said towne, and many Scotts 
there hurte ; your highnes subjects was xiii myles within the 
grounde of Scotlande, and is from my house at Werkworthe, 
above lx miles of the most evill passage, where great snawes 
dothe lye ; heretofore the same townes now brynt haith not 
at any tyme in the mynd of man in any warrs been enterprised 
unto nowe ; your subjects were therto more encouraged for the 
better advancement of your highnes service, the said Lord of 
Buclough beyng always a mortall enemy to this your graces 
realme, and he dyd say, within xiii days before, he woulde 
see who durst lye near hym ; wt many other cruell words, the 
knowledge wherof was certainly haid to my said servaunts, 
before theyre enterprice maid vppon him ; most humbly be- 
seeching your majesty, that youre highnes thanks may concur 
vnto theyme, whose names be here inclosed, and to have in 



i 



220 NOTES TO CANTO FIRST, 

your most gracious memory, the paynfull and diligent service 
of my pore servaunte Wharton, and thus, as I am most boun- 

den, shall dispose wt them that be under me f 

annoysaunce of your highnes enemy s." In resentment of this 
foray, Buccleuch, with other Border chiefs, assembled an army 
of 3000 riders, with which they penetrated into Northumber- 
land, and laid waste the country as far as the banks of Bra- 
mish. They baffled, or defeated, the English forces opposed to 
them, and returned loaded with prey. — PlNKERTON 7 s History, 
vol. II. p. 318. 

Note V. 

Bards long shall tell, 

How Lord Walter fell.— St VII. p. 21. 
Sir Walter Scott of Buccleuch succeeded to his grandfather, 
Sir. David, in 1492. He was a brave and powerful baron, and 
warden of the west marches of Scotland. His death was the 
consequence of a feud betwixt the Scotts and Kerrs, the histo- 
ry of which is necessary, to explain repeated allusions in the 
romance. 

In the year 1 526, in the words of Pitscottie, " the Earl of 
Angus, and the rest of the Douglasses, ruled all which they 
liked, and no man durst say the contrary j wherefore the king 
(James V. then a minor) was heavily displeased, and would 
fain have been out of their hands, if he might by any way : 
And, to that effect, wrote a quiet and secret letter with his own 
feand, and sent it to the laird of Buccleuch, beseeching him 



NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 221 

that he would come with his kin and friends, and all the force 
that he might be, and meet him at Melross, at his home-pass- 
ing, and there to take him out of the Douglasses hands, and 
to put him to liberty, to use himself among the lave (rest) of his 
lords, as he thinks expedient. 

" This letter was quietly directed, and sent by one of the 
king's own secret servants, which was received very thankful- 
ly by the laird of Buccleuch, who was very glad thereof, to be 
put to such charges and familiarity with his prince, and did 
great diligence to perform the king's writing, and to bring the 
matter to pass as the king desired : And, to that effect, conve- 
ned all his kin and friends, and all that would do for him, to 
ride with him to Melross, when he knew of the king's home- 
coming. And so he brought with him six hundred speares, of 
Liddesdale, and Annandale, and countrymen, and clans there- 
about, and held themselves quiet while that the king returned 
out of Jedburgh, and came to Melross, to remain there all that 
night. 

t( But when the Lord Hume, Cessfoord, and Fernyhirst, (the 
chiefs of the clan of Kerr,) took their leave of the king, and 
returned home, then appeared the Lord of Buckleuch in sight, 
and his company with him, in an arrayed battle, intending to 
have fulfilled the king's petition, and therefore came stoutly 
forward on the back side of Haliden hill. By that the Earl of 
Angus, with George Douglas, his brother, and sundry other 
of his friends, seeing this army coming, they marvelled what 

the matter meant ; while at the last they knew the laird of 

/ 



222 NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 

Buccleuch, with a certain company of the thieves of Annan- 
dale. With him they were less affeared, and made them man- 
fully to the field contrary them, and said to the king in this 
manner, * Sir, yon is Buckleuch, and thieves of Annandale 
with him, to unbeset your Grace from the gate (i. e. interrupt 
your passage.) I vow to God they shall either fight or flee ; 
and ye shall tarry here on this know, and my brother George 
with you, with any other company you please; and I shall 
pass, and put yon thieves off the ground, and rid the gate unto 
your Grace, or else die for it.' The king tarried still, as was 
devised, and George Douglas with him, and sundry other 
lords, such as the Earl of Lennox, and the Lord Erskine, and 
some of the king's own servants ; but all the lave (rest) past 
with the Earl of Angus to the field against the laird of Buc- 
cleuch, who joyned and countered cruelly both the said par- 
ties in the field of Darnelinver,* either against other, with 
uncertain victory. But at the last, the Lord Hume, hearing 
word of that matter how it stood, returned again to the king in 
all possible haste, with him the lairds of Cessfoord and Fair- 
nyhirst, to the number of fourscore spears, and set freshly on 
the lap and wing of the laird of Buccleuch's field, and shortly 
bare them backward to the ground ; which caused the laird 
of Buccleuch, and the rest of his friends, to go back and flee, 
whom they followed and chased; and especially the lairds of 



* Darnwick, near Melrose. The place of conflict is still called 
Skinner's Field, from a corruption of Skirmish Field, 



NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 223 

Cessfoord and Fairnyhirst followed furiouslie, till at the foot of 
a path the laird of Cessfoord was slain by the stroke of a spear 
by an Elliott, who was then servant to the laird of Buccleuch. 
But when the laird of Cessfoord was slain, the chase ceased. 
The Earl of Angus returned again with great merriness and 
victory, and thanked God that he saved him from that chance, 
and passed with the king to Melross, where they remained all 
that night. On the morn they past to Edinburgh with the king, 
who was very sad and dolorous of the slaughter of the laird of 
Cessfoord, and many other gentlemen and yeomen slain by the 
laird of Buccleuch, containing the number of fourscore and fif- 
teen, which died in defence of the king, and at the command 
of his writing." 

I am not the first who has attempted to celebrate in verse 
the renown of this ancient baron, and his hazardous attempt to 
procure his sovereigns freedom. In a Scottish Latin poet we 
find the following verses : — 

Valterius Scotus Balcluchius. 

Egregio suscepto facinore libertate Regis, ac aliis rebus gestis 
clarus, sub Jacobo V, A°. Christi, 1526. 

Intentata aliis, nullique audita priorum 

Audet, nee pavidum morsve, metusve quatit, 
Libertatem aliis soliti transcribere Reges : 

Subreptam hanc Regi restituisse paras, 
Si vincis, quanta 6 succedunt prsemia dextrae 

Sin victus, falsas spes jace, pone animam. 
Hostica vis nocuit : stant altae robora mentis 

Atque decus. Vincet, Rege probante, fides. 



224 NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 



Insita queis aniinis virtus, quosque acrior ardor 
Obsidet, obscuris nox premat an tenebris ? 

Heroes ex omni Historia Scoticae lectissimi, Auctore Johau. 
Jonstonio Abredonense Scoto, 1603. 



In consequence of the battle of Melrose, there ensued a 
deadly feud betwixt the names of Scott and Kerr, which, in 
spite of all means used to bring about an agreement, raged for 
many years upon the Borders. Buccleuch was imprisoned, and 
his estates forfeited, in the year 1 535, for levying war against 
the Kerrs, and restored by act of parliament, dated 15th March, 
1 542, during the regency of Mary of Lorraine. But the most 
signal act of violence, to which this quarrel gave rise, was, the 
murder of Sir Walter himself, who was slain by the Kerrs in 
the streets of Edinburgh, in 1552. This is the event alluded 
to in Stanza VII. ; and the poem is supposed to open shortly 
after it had taken place. 

The feud between these two families was not reconciled in 
1596, when both chieftains paraded the streets of Edinburgh 
with their followers, and it was expected their first meeting 
would decide their quarrel. But, on July 14th of the same 
year, Colvil, in a letter to Mr Bacon, informs him, " that there 
was great trouble upon the Borders, which would continue till 
order should be taken by the queen of England and the king, 
by reason of the two young Scots chieftains, Cesford and Bac- 
lugh, and of the present necessity and scarcity of corn amongst 
the Scots Borderers and riders. That there had been a private 



NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 225 

quarrel betwixt those two lairds, on the Borders, which was 
like to have turned to blood ; but the fear of the general trou- 
ble had reconciled them, and the injuries which they thought 
to have committed against each other, were now transferred 
upon England : not unlike that emulation in France between 
the Baron de Biron and Mons. Jeverie, who, being both ambi- 
tious of honour, undertook more hazardous enterprises against 
the enemy, than they would have done if they had been at con- 
cord together."— Birch's Memorials, vol. II. p. 67. 

Note VI. 
No / vainly to each holy shrine, 
In mutual pilgrimage, they drew. — P. 21. 
Among other expedients resorted to for staunching the feud 
betwixt the Scotts and the Kerrs, there was a bond executed, 
in 1529, between the heads of each clan, binding themselves 
to perform reciprocally the four principal pilgrimages of Scot- 
land, for the benefit of the souls of those of the opposite name 
who had fallen in the quarrel. This indenture is printed in 
the Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, vol. I. But either it 
never took effect, or else the feud was renewed shortly after- 
wards. 

Such pactions were not uncommon in feudal times ; and, as 
might be expected, they were often, as in the present case, 
void of the effect desired. When Sir Walter Mauny, the re- 
nowned follower of Edward III., had taken the town of Ryoll, 
in Gascony, he remembered to have heard that his father lay 
P 



226 NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 

there buried, and offered a hundred crowns to any who could 
show him his grave. A very old man appeared before Sir 
Walter, and informed him of the manner of his father's death, 
and the place of his sepulture. It seems the Lord of Mauny 
had, at a great tournament, unhorsed, and wounded to the death, 
a Gascon knight, of the house of Mirepoix, whose kinsman was 
bishop of Cambray. For this deed he was held at feud by the 
relations of the knight, until he agreed to undertake a pilgrim- 
age to the shrine of St James of Compostella, for the benefit 
of the soul of the deceased. But as he returned through the 
town of Ryoll, after accomplishment of his vow, he was beset, 
and treacherously slain, by the kindred of the knight whom he 
had killed. Sir Walter, guided by the old man, visited the low- 
ly tomb of his father ; and, having read the inscription, which 
was in Latin, he caused the body to be raised, and transported 
to his native city of Valenciennes, where masses were, in the 
days of Froissart, duly said for the soul of the unfortunate pil- 
grim.— Crony de o/Froissak.T, vol I. p. 123, 

VII. 

While Cessford owns the rule of Car. — P. 22. 
The family of Ker, Kerr, or Car,* was very powerful on the 
Border. Fynes Morrison remarks, in his Travels, that their 
influence extended from the village of Preston- Grange, in Lo- 

* The name is spelled differently by the various families who 
bear it. Car is selected, not as the most correct, but as the most 
poetical reading. 



NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 227 

thian, to the limits of England. Cessford Castle, the ancient 
baronial residence of the family, is situated near the village of 
Morebattle, within two or three miles of the Cheviot Hills. — 
It has been a place of great strength and consequence, but is 
now ruinous. Tradition affirms, that it was founded by Hal- 
bert, or Habby Kerr, a gigantic warrior, concerning whom 
many stories are current in Roxburghshire. The Duke of 
Roxburghe represents Ker of Cessford. A distinct and power- 
ful branch of the same name own the Marquis of Lothian as 
their chief: Hence the distinction betwixt Kers of Cessford 
and Fairnihirst. 

Note VIII. 
Before Lord Cranstoun she should wed, — P. 23. 
The Cranstouns, Lord Cranstoun, are an ancient Border fa- 
mily, whose chief seat was at Crailing, in Teviotdale. They 
were at this time at feud with the clan of Scott j for it appears 
that the lady of Buccleuch, in 1557, beset the laird of Cran- 
stoun, seeking his life. Nevertheless, the same Cranstoun^ 
or perhaps his son, was married to a daughter of the same 
lady. 

Note IX. 
OfBethune's line of Picardie.—P. 24. 
The Bethunes were of French origin, and derived their 
name from a small town in Artois. There were several dis- 
tinguished families of the Bethunes in the neighbouring pro- 



228 NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 

vince of Picardy ; they numbered among their descendants 
the celebrated Due de Sully; and the name was accounted 
among the most noble in France, while aught noble remained 
in that country. The family of Bethune, or Beatoun, in Fife, 
produced three learned and dignified prelates ; namely, Cardi- 
nal Beaton, and two successive archbishops of Glasgow, all 
of whom flourished about the date of the romance. Of this 
family was descended Dame Janet Beaton, Lady Buccleuch, 
widow of Sir Walter Scott of Branksome. She was a woman 
of masculine spirit, as appeared from her riding at the head of 
her son's clan, after her husband's murder. She also pos- 
sessed the hereditary abilities of her family in such a degree, 
that the superstition of the vulgar imputed them to superna- 
tural knowledge. With this was mingled, by faction, the foul 
accusation of her having influenced Queen Mary to the murder 
of her husband. One of the placards, preserved in Buchanan's 
Detection, accuses of Darnley's murder " the Erie of Bothwell, 
Mr James Balfour, the persoun of Fliske Mr David Chal- 
mers, black Mr John Spens, who was principal deviser of the 
murder ; and the Quene, assenting thairto, throw the persua- 
sioun of the Erie Bothwell, and the witchcraft of Lady Buck" 
leuch." 

Note X. 
He learned the art, that none may name, 
In Padua, far beyond the sea. — P. 24. 
Padua was long supposed, by the Scottish peasants, to be the 



NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 229 

principal school of necromancy. The Earl of Gowrie, slain at 
Perth, in 1 600, pretended, during his studies in Italy, to have 
acquired some knowledge of the cabala, by which, he said, he 
could charm snakes, and work other miracles ; and, in particu- 
lar, could produce children without the intercourse of the sexes. 
— See the examination of Wemyss of Bogie before the Privy 
Council, concerning Gowrie's Conspiracy. 

Note XI. 

His form no darkening shadozo traced 
Upon the sunny wall. — P. 24. 
The shadow of a necromancer is independent of the sun.— 
Glycas informs us, that Simon Magus caused his shadow to go 
before him, making people believe it was an attendant spi- 
rit. — Heywood's Hier archie, p. 475. The vulgar conceive, 
that when a class of students have made a certain progress in 
their mystic studies, they are obliged to run through a subter- 
raneous hall, where the devil literally catches the hindmost in 
the race, unless he crosses the hall so speedily, that the arch- 
enemy can only apprehend his shadow. In the latter case, the 
person of the sage never after throws any shade ; and those, 
who have thus lost their shadozo, always prove the best magi- 
cians. 

Note XII. 
The viewless forms of air. — P. 24. 
The Scottish vulgar, without having any very defined no- 



230 NOTES TO €ANTO FIRST. 

tion of their attributes, believe in the existence of an interme- 
diate class of spirits residing in the air, or in the waters ; to 
whose agency they ascribe floods, storms, and all such pheno- 
mena as their own philosophy cannot readily explain. They 
are supposed to interfere in the affairs of mortals, sometimes 
with a malevolent purpose, and sometimes with milder views. 
It is said, for example, that a gallant baron, having returned 
from the Holy Land to his castle of Drummelziar, found his 
fair lady nursing a healthy child, whose birth did not by any 
means correspond to the date of his departure. Such an oc- 
currence, to the credit of the dames of the crusaders be it spo- 
ken, was so rare, that it required a miraculous solution. The 
lady, therefore, was believed, when she averred confidently, 
that the Spirit of the Tweed had issued from the river while 
she was walking upon its bank, and compelled her to submit 
to his embraces : and the name of Tweedie was bestowed up- 
on the child, who afterwards became Baron of Drummelziar, 
and chief of a powerful clan. To those spirits were also ascri- 
bed,, in Scotland, the 

/ 
— " Airy tongues, that syllable men's names, 

On sands, and shores, and desert wildernesses." 

When the workmen were engaged in erecting the ancient 
church of Old Deer, in Aberdeenshire, upon a small hill called 
Bissau, they were surprised to find that the work was impeded 
by supernatural obstacles. At length, the Spirit of the River 
was heard to say, 



NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 231 

It is not here, it is not here, 

That ye shall build the church of Deer 5 

But on Taptillery, 

Where many a corpse shall lie. 

The site of the edifice was accordingly transferred to Taptil- 
lery, an eminence at some distance from the place where the 
building had been commenced. — Macfarlane's MSS. I men- 
tion these popular fables, because the introduction of the River 
and Mountain Spirits may not, at first sight, seem to accord 
with the general tone of the romance, and the superstitions of 
the country where the scene is laid. 

Note XIII. 
A fancied moss-trooper, &c. — P. 29. 

This was the usual appellation of the marauders upon the 
Borders ; a profession diligently pursued by the inhabitants on 
both sides, and by none more actively and successfully than 
by Buccleuch's clan. Long after the union of the crowns, the 
moss-troopers, although sunk in reputation, and no longer en- 
joying the pretext of national hostility, continued to pursue 
their calling. 

Fuller includes, among the wonders of Cumberland, " The 
Moss-troopers : so strange is the condition of their Jiving, if 
considered in their Original, Increase, Height, Decay, and 
Ruine. 

1. " Original. I conceive them the same called Borderers 
in Mr Cambden ; and characterised by him to be, a wild and 



232 NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 

warlike people. They are called Moss-troopers^ because dwell- 
ing in the mosses, and riding in troops together. They dwell 
in the bounds, or meeting, of the two kingdoms, but obey the 
laws of neither. They come to church as seldom as the 29th 
of February comes into the kalendar. 

2. <c Increase. When England and Scotland were united in 
Great Britain, they that formerly lived by hostile incursions, 
betook themselves to the robbing of their neighbours. Their 
sons are free of the trade by their father's copy* They are 
like to Job, not in piety and patience, but in sudden plenty 
and poverty ; sometimes having flocks and herds in the morn- 
ing, none at night, and perchance many again next day. They 
may give for their mottoe, vivitur ex rapto, stealing from 
their honest neighbours what they sometimes require. They 
are a nest of hornets : strike one, and stir all of them about 
your ears. Indeed, if they promise safely to conduct a tra- 
veller, they will perform it with the fidelity of a Turkish ja- 
nizary ; otherwise, woe be to him that falleth into their quar- 
ters ! 

3. " Height. Amounting, forty years since, to some thou- 
sands. These compelled the vicinage to purchase their secu- 
rity, by paying a constant rent to them. When in their great- 
est height, they had two great enemies — the Laws of the Land, 
and the Lord William Howard of Naworth. He sent many of 
them to Carlisle, to that place where the officer doth always 
his work by day-light. Yet these Moss-troopers, if possibly 
they could procure the pardon for a condemned person of 



NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 233 

their company, would advance great sums out of their com- 
mon stock, who, in such a case, cast in their lots amongst them' 
selves, and all have one purse* 

4. " Decay. Caused by the wisdom, valour, and diligence, 
of the Right Honourable Charles Lord Howard, Earl of Car- 
lisle, who routed these English Tories with his regiment. His 
severity unto them will not only be excused, but commended, 
by the judicious, who consider how our great lawyer doth de- 
scribe such persons, who are solemnly outlawed. Br acton, 
lib. 8. trac. 2. cap. 11. — ' Ex tunc gerunt caput lupinum, ita 
quod sine judiciali inquisitione rite pereant, et secum suum ju- 
dicium portent ; et merito sine lege pereunt, qui secundum le- 
gem vivere recusarunt.' — l Thenceforward, (after that they are 
outlawed) they wear a wolf's head, so that they lawfully may 
be destroyed, without any judicial inquisition, as who carry 
their own condemnation about them, and deservedly die with- 
out law, because they refused to live according to law.' 

5. " Ruine. Such was the success of this worthy lord's se- 
verity, that he made a thorough reformation among them ; and 
the ringleaders being destroyed, the rest are reduced to legall 
obedience, and so, I trust, will continue." — Fuller's Worthies 
of England, j). 216. 

The last public mention of moss-troopers occurs during the 
civil wars of the 17th century, when many ordinances of par- 
liament were directed against them. 



234 NOTES TO CANTO FIRST C 



Note XIV. 
How the brave boy, in future war, 
Should tame the Unicorn's pride, 

Exalt the Crescent and the Star. — P. 29. 
The arms of the Kerrs of Cessford were, Vert on a cheve- 
ron, betwixt three unicorns 7 heads erased argent, three mullets 
sable ; crest, an unicorn's head erased proper. The Scotts of 
Buccleuch bore, Or on a bend azure ; a star of six points be- 
twixt two crescents of the first* 

Note XV. 
William of Deloraine. — P. 30. 
The lands of Deloraine are joined to those of Buccleuch 
in Ettricke Forest. They were immemorially possessed by 
the Buccleuch family, under the strong title of occupancy, al- 
though no charter was obtained from the crown until 1545.— 
Like other possessions, the lands of Deloraine were occasion- 
ally granted by them to vassals, or kinsmen, for Border-ser- 
vice. Satchells mentions, among the twenty-four gentlemen 
pensioners of the family, " William Scott, commonly called 
Cut-at-the-Black, who had the lands of Nether Deloraine for 
his service." And again, " This William of Deloraine, com- 
monly called Cut-at-the-Black, was a brother of the ancient 
house of Haining, which house of Haining is descended from 
the ancient house of Hassendean." The lands of Deloraine 
now give an earl's title to the descendant of Henry, the se- 



NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 235 

c@nd surviving son of the Duchess of Buceleuch and Mon- 
mouth. I have endeavoured to give William of Deloraine the 
attributes which characterised the Borderers of his day ; for 
which I can only plead Froissart's apology, that, " it behoveth, 
in a lynage, some to be folyshe and outrageous, to maynteyne 
and sustayne the peasable." As a contrast to my Marchman, 
I ,beg leave to transcribe, from the same author, the speech 
of Amergot Marcell, a captain of the Adventurous Compa- 
nions, a robber, and a pillager of the country of Auvergne, 
who had been bribed to sell his strong-holds, and to assume a 
more honourable military life under the banners of the Earl of 
Armagnac. But " when he remembered alle this, he was sor- 
rowful ; his tresour he thought he wolde not mynysshe ; he was 
wonte Uayly to serche for newe pyllages, wherbye encresed 
his profyte, and then he sawe that alle was closed fro ? hym. 
Then he sayde and imagyned, that to pyll and to robbe (all 
thynge considered) was a good lyfe, and so repented hym of 
his good doing. On a tyme, he said to his old companyons, 
* Sirs, there is no sporte nor glory in this worlde amonge men 
of warre, but to use suche lyfe as we have done in tyme past. 
What a joy was it to us when we rode forth at adventure, and 
somtyme found by the way a riche priour or merchaunt, or a 
route of mulettes of Mountpellyer, of Narbonne, of Lymens, 
of Fongans, of Besyers, of Tholous, or of Carcassone, laden 
with cloth of Brussels, or peltre ware comynge fro the fayres, 
or laden with spycery fro Bruges, fro Damas, or fro Alysaun- 
dre : whatsoever we met, all was ours, or els ransoumed at 



236 NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 

our pleasures ; dayly we gate new money, and the vyllaynes 
of Auvergne and of Lyraosyn dayly provyded and brought to 
our castell whete mele, good wynes, beffes, and fatte mottons, 
pullayne, and wylde foule : We were ever furnyshed as tho we 
had been kings. When we rode forthe, all the countrey trym- 
bled for feare : all was ours goyng and comynge. Howe tok 
we Carlast, I and the Bourge of Compayne, and I and Perot 
of Bernoys took Caluset : how dyd we scale, with lytell ayde, 
the strong castell of Marquell, pertayning to the Erl Dolphyn : 
I kept it nat past fyve days, but I receyved for it, on a feyre 
table, fyve thousand frankes, and forgave one thousande for 
the love of the Erl Dolphin's children. By my fayth, this was 
a fayre and a good lyfe ; wherefore I repute myselve sore de- 
ceyved, in that I have rendered up the fortress of Aloys ; for 
it wolde have kept fro alle the worlde, and the daye that I 
gave it up, it was fournyshed with vytaylles, to have been kept 
seven yere without any re-vy taylynge. This Erl of Armynake 
hath deceyved me : Olyve Barbe, and Perot le Bernoys, shew- 
ed to me how I shulde repente myself: certayne I sore re= 
pente myselfe of what I have done." — Froissart, vol. II, 
p. 195. 

Note XVI. 
By wily turns, by desperate bounds. 
Had baffled Percy's best blood-hounds. — P. 30. 
The kings and heroes of Scotland, as well as the Border ri- 
ders, were sometimes obliged to study how to evade the pur- 



NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 237 

suit of blood-hounds. Barbour informs us, that Robert Bruce 
was repeatedly tracked by sleuth- dogs. On one occasion, he 
escaped by wading a bow-shot down a brook, and ascending in- 
to a tree by a branch which overhung the water : thus leaving 
no trace on land of his footsteps, he baffled the scent. The 
pursuers came up : 

Rycht to the burn thai passyt ware, 
Bot the sleuth hund made stinting thar, 
And waueryt lang tyme ta and fra, 
That he na certain gate couth ga ; 
Till at the last that Johu of Lorn 
Perseuvit the hund the sleuth had lorne. 

The Bruce, Book vii. 

A sure way of stopping the dog was to spill blood upon the 
track, which destroyed the discriminating fineness of his scent. 
A captive was sometimes sacrified on such occasions. Henry 
the Minstrel tells a romantic story of Wallace, founded on 
this circumstance: — The hero's little band had been joined by 
an Irishman, named Fawdon, or Fadzean, a dark, savage, and 
suspicious character. After a sharp skirmish at Black-Erne 
Side, Wallace was forced to retreat with only sixteen follow- 
ers. The English pursued with a border sleuth-bratch t or 
blood-hound : 

In Gelderland there was that bratcbet bred, 

Siker of scent, to follow them that fled ; 

So was he used in l.ske and Liddesdail, 

While (i. e. till) she gat blood no fleeiDg might avail.. 



238 NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 

In the retreat, Fawdon, tired, or affecting to be so, would g& 
no farther ; Wallace, having in vain argued with him, in hasty 
anger, struck off his head* and continued the retreat. When the 
English came up,, their hound stayed upon the dead body :— ~ 

The sleuth stopped at Fawdon, till she stood, 
Nor farther would fra time she fand the blood* 

The story concludes with a fine Gothic scene of terror* 
Wallace took refuge in the solitary tower of Gask. Here he was 
disturbed at midnight by the blast of a horn : He sent out his 
attendants by two and two,, but no one returned with tidings. 
At length, when be was left alone, the sound was heard still 
louder. The champion descended, sword in hand ; and, at the 
gate of the tower, was encountered by the headless spectre of 
Fawdon, whom he had slain so rashly. Wallace, in great ter- 
ror, fled up into the tower, tore open the boards of a window, 
leapt down fifteen feet in height, and continued his flight up 
the river. Looking back to Gask, he discovered the tower on 
fire, and the form of Fawdon upon the battlements, dilated to 
an immense size, and holding in his hand a blazing rafter., 
The Minstrel concludes. 



Trust ryght wele, that all this be sooth, indeed,. 
Supposing it be no point of the creed. 

The Wallace y Book v. 



Mr Ellis has extracted this tale as a sample of Henry's 
poetry. — Specimens of' English Poetry, vol. I. p. 35.1. 



NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 239 



Note XVn. 
Dimly he mewed the Moat-hill's mound. — P. 33. 
This is a round artificial mount near Hawick, which, from 
its name ($®ou Ang. Sax. Concilium, Conventus,) was probably 
anciently used as a place for assembling a national council of 
the adjacent tribes. There are many such moimds in Scotland, 
and they are sometimes, but rarely, of a square form. 

Note XVIII. 

Beneath the tower of Hazeldean. — P. 33. 
The estate of Hazeldean, corruptly Hassendean, belonged 
formerly to a family of Scotts, thus commemorated by Satch- 
ells:— 



Hassendean came without a call, 
The ancientest house among them all. 



Note XIX. 
On Minto-crags the moon-beams glint. — P. 34. 
A romantic assemblage of cliffs, which rise suddenly above 
the vale of Teviot, in the immediate vicinity of the family 
seat, from which Lord Minto takes his title. A small platform, 
on a projecting crag, commanding a most beautiful prospect, 
is termed Barnhills' Bed. This Barnhills is said to have been 
a robber, or outlaw. There are remains of a strong tower be- 
neath the rocks, where he is supposed to have dwelt, and from 



240 NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 

which he derived his name. On the summit of the crags are 
the fragments of another ancient tower, in a picturesque situa- 
tion. Among the houses cast down by the Earl of Hartforde, 
in 1545, occur the towers of Easter- Barnhills, and of Minto 
crag, with Minto town and place. Sir Gilbert Elliot, father to 
the present Lord Minto, was the author of a beautiful pastoral 
song, of which the following is a more correct copy than is usu- 
ally published. The poetical mantle of Sir Gilbert Elliot has 
descended to his family. 

My sheep I neglected, I broke my sheep-hook, 
And all the gay haunts of my youth I forsook : 
No more for Amynta fresh garlands I wove j 
Ambition, I said, would soon cure me of love. 
But what had my youth with ambition to do ? 
Why left I Amynta ? why broke I my vow ? 

Through regions remote in vain do I rove, 

And bid the wide world secure me from love. 

Ah, fool, to imagine, that aught could subdue 

A love so well founded, a passion so true .' 

Ah, give me my sheep, and my sheep-hook restore, 

And I'll wander from love and Amynta no more ! 

Alas ! 'tis too late at thy fate to repine ! 
Poor shepherd, Amynta no more can be thine ! 
Thy tears are all fruitless, thy wishes are vain, 
The moments neglected return not again. 
Ah ! what had my youth with ambition to do ? 
Why left I Amynta ? why broke I my vow ? 



NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 241 



Note XX. 
Ancient Riddel 's fair domain. — P. 35. 
The family of Riddel have been very long in possession of 
the barony called Riddell, or Ryedale, part of which still bears 
the latter name. Tradition carries their antiquity to a point 
extremely remote ; and is, in some degree, sanctioned by the 
discovery of two stone coffins, one containing an earthen pot 
filled with ashes and arms, bearing a legible date, A. D. 727 ; 
the other dated 936, and filled with the bones of a man of gi- 
gantic size. These coffins were discovered in the foundations 
of what was, but has long ceased to be, the chapel of Riddell ; 
and as it was argued, with plausibility, that they contained the 
remains of some ancestors of the family, they were deposited 
in the modern. place of sepulture, comparatively so termed, 
though built in 1110. But the following curious and authentic 
documents warrant most conclusively the epithet of " ancient 
Riddell :" 1st, A charter by David I. to Walter Rydale, she- 
riff of Roxburgh, confirming all the estates of Liliesclive, &c. 
of which his father, Gervasius de Rydale, died possessed. — 
2dly, A bull of Pope Adrian IV., confirming the will of Wal- 
ter de Ridale, knight, in favour of his brother Anschittil de 
Ridale, dated 8th April, 1 1 55. 3dly, A bull of Pope Alexan- 
der III., confirming the said will of Walter de Ridale, be- 
queathing to his brother Anschittil the lands of Liliesclive, 
Whettunes, &c. and ratifying the bargain betwixt Anschittil 
and Huctredus, concerning the church of Liliesclive, in con- 
Q 



242 NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 

sequence of the mediation of Malcolm II., and confirmed by a 
charter from that monarch. This bull is dated 17th June, 
1160. 4thly, A bull of the same Pope, confirming the will of 
Sir Anschittil de Ridale, in favour of his son Walter, convey- 
ing the said lands of Liliesclive and others, dated 1 Oth March, 
1120. It is remarkable, that Liliesclive, otherwise Rydale, or 
Riddel, and the Whittunes, have descended, through a long 
train of ancestors, without ever passing into a collateral line, 
to the person of Sir John Buchanan Riddell, Bart, of Riddell, 
the lineal descendant and representative of Sir Anschittil. — 
These circumstances appeared worthy of notice in a border 
work. 

Note XXI. 
As glanced his eye o'er Halidon. — P. 36. 
Halidon was an ancient seat of the Kerrs of Cessford, now 
demolished. About a quarter of a mile to the northward lay 
the field of battle betwixt Buccleuch and Angus, which is call- 
ed to this day the Skirmish Field. — See the 4th note on this 
Canto. 

Note XXII. 
Old Metros' rose, and fair Tweed ran. — P. 37. 
The ancient and beautiful monastery of Melrose was found- 
ed by King David L Its ruins afford the finest specimen of 
Gothic architecture and Gothic sculpture which Scotland can 
boast. The stone of which it is built, though it has resisted 



NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 243 

the weather for so many ages, retains perfect sharpness, so 
that even the most minute ornaments seem as entire as when 
newly wrought. In some of the cloisters, as is hinted in the 
next Canto, there are representations of flowers, vegetables, 
&c. carved in stone, with accuracy and precision so delicate, 
that we almost distrust our senses, when we consider the diffi- 
culty of subjecting so hard a substance to such intricate and 
exquisite modulation. This superb convent was dedicated to 
St Mary, and the monks were of the Cistertian order- At the 
time of the Reformation, they shared in the general reproach 
of sensuality and irregularity, thrown upon the Roman church- 
men. The old words of Galashiels, a favourite Scottish air, 
ran thus : 



O the monks of Melrose made gude kale* 
On Fridays when they fasted ; 

They wanted neither beef nor ale, 
As long as their neighbour's lasted. 



* Kale, Broth. 



NOTES TO CANTO II. 



Note I. 
When silver edges the imagery, 

And the scrolls that teach thee to live and die. — P. 44. 
The buttresses, ranged along the sides of the ruins of Mel- 
rose Abbey, are, according to the Gothic style, richly carved 
and fretted, containing niches for the statues of saints, and 
labelled with scrolls, bearing appropriate texts of scripture. 
Most of these statues have been demolished. 

Note II. 
■ — St David's ruined pile. — P. 44. 



David I. of Scotland purchased the reputation of sanctity, 
by founding, and liberally endowing, not only the monastery 
of Melrose, but those of Kelso, Jedburgh, and many others, 
which led to the well-known observation of his successor, that 
he was a sore saint for the crown. 



246 NOTES TO CANTO SECOND. 



Note III. 
— — Lands and livings many a rood, 
Had gifted the shrine for their souls' repose. — P. 45. 
The Buccleuch family were great benefactors to the Abbey 
of Melrose. As early as the reign of Robert II., Robert Scott, 
baron of Murdieston and Rankelburn (now Buccleuch,) gave to 
the monks the lands of Hinkery, in Ettricke Forest, pros alute 
anwue sua, — Chartulary of Melrose, 28th May, 1415. 

Note IV. 

Prayer knozo I hardly one ; 

* * # * 

Save to patter an Ave Mary, 
When I ride on a Border foray, — P. 47. 
The Borderers were, as may be supposed, very ignorant 
about religious matters. Colville, in his Paranesis, or Admo- 
nition, states, that the reformed divines were so far from un- 
dertaking distant journies to convert the Heathen, " as I wold 
wis at God that ye wold only go bot to the Hielands and Bor- 
ders of our own realm, to gain our awin countreymen, who, for 
lack of preching and ministration of the sacraments, must, with 
tyme, becum either infidells, or atheists." But we learn, from 
Lesly, that, however deficient in real religion, they regularly 
told their beads, and never with more zeal than when going on 
a plundering expedition. 



NOTES TO CANTO SECOND. 247 



Note V, 
Beneath their feet were the bones of the dead. — P. 48. 
The cloisters were frequently used as places of sepulture. 
An instance occurs in Dryburgh Abbey, where the cloister has 
an inscription, bearing, Hie jacet f rater Archibaldus. 

Note VI. 

So had he seen, in fair Castile, 

The youth in glittering squadrons start ; 
Sudden the flying jennet wheel, 

And hurl the unexpected dart. — P. 48. 
" By my faith," sayd the Duke of Lancaster, (to a Portu- 
guese squire.) " of all the feates of armes that the Castellyans, 
and they of your countrey doth use, the castynge of their 
dartes best pleaseth me, and gladly I wolde se it ; for, as I hear 
say, if they strike one aryghte, without he be well armed, the 
dart will pierce him thrughe " — " By my fayth, sir," sayd the 
squyer, " ye say trouth ; for I have seen many a grete stroke 
given with them, which at one time cost us derely, and was 
to us great displeasure ; for, at the said skyrmishe, Sir John 
Laurence of Coygne was striken with a dart in such wise, that 
the head perced all the plates of his cote of mayle, and a sacke 
stopped with sylke, and passed thrughe his body, so that he 
fell down dead." — Froissart, vol. II. ch. 44. — This mode of 
fighting with darts was imitated in the military game called 
Juego de las canas, which the Spaniards borrowed from their 



248 NOTES TO CANTO SECOND. 

Moorish invaders. A Saracen champion is thus described by 
Froissart : K Among the Sarazyns, there was a yonge knight 
called Agadinger Dolyferne ; he was always wel mounted on a 
redy and a lyght horse ; it seemed, when the horse ranne, that 
he did fly in the ayre. The knyghte seemed to be a good man 
of armes by his dedes ; he bare always of usage three fethered 
dartes, and rychte well he could handle them ; and, according 
to their custome, he was clene armed, with a long white towell 
about his heed. His apparell was blacke, and his own colour 
browne, and a good horseman. The Crysten men say, they 
thoughte he dyd such deeds of armes for the love of some 
yonge ladye of his countrey. And true it was, that he lo- 
ved entirely the king of Thune's daughter, named the Lady 
Azala ; she was inherytour to the realme of Thunes, after the 
discease of the kyng, her father. This Agadinger was sone to 
the Duke of Olyferne. I can nat telle if they were married 
together after or nat ; but it was shewed me, that this knyght, 
for love of the sayd ladye, during the siege, did many feats of 
armes. The knyghtes of Fraunce wold fayne have taken hym ; 
but they colde never attrape nor inclose him, his horse was 
so swyft, and so redy to his hand, that alwaies he escaped." — 
Vol. II. ch. 71. 

Note VII. 

Thy low and lonely urn, 

O gallant chief of ' Otterburne^ — P. 50; 
The famous and desperate battle of Otterburne was fought 
J5th August, 1388, betwixt Henry Percy, called Hotspur, and, 



NOTES TO CANTO SECOND. 249 

James, Earl of Douglas. Both these renowned champions 
were at the head of a chosen body of troops, and they were 
rivals in military fame ; so that Froissart affirms, " Of all the 
battaylles and encounteryngs that I have made mencion of 
here before in all this hystory, great or smalle, this batayle 
that I treat of nowe was one of the sorest and best foughten, 
without cowardes or faynte hertes ; for there was neyther 
knyght nor squyer but that dyde his devoyre, and fought hande 
to hande. This batayle was lyke the batayle of Becherell, 
the which was valiantly fought and endured." The issue of 
the conflict is well known : Percy was made prisoner, and the 
Scots won the day, dearly purchased by the death of their 
gallant general, the Earl of Douglas, who was slain in the ac- 
tion. He was buried at Melrose, beneath the high altar. 
" His obsequye was done reverently, and on his bodye layde a 
tombe of stone, and his baner hangyng over hym." — Frois- 
sart, vol. II. p. 161. 

Note VIII. 

Dark knight of Liddesdale.—V. 50. 

William Douglas, called the knight of Liddesdale, flourished 
during the reign of David II. ; and was so distinguished by his 
valour, that he was called the Flower of Chivalry. Neverthe. 
less, he tarnished his renown by the cruel murder of Sir Alex- 
ander Ramsay of Dalhousie, originally his friend and brother 
in arms. The king had conferred upon Ramsay the sheriffdom 
of Teviotdale, to which Douglas pretended some claim. In 



250 NOTES TO CANTO SECOND. 

revenge of this preference, the knight of Liddesdale came 
down upon Ramsay, while he was administering justice at 
Hawick, seized and carried him off to his remote and inacces- 
sible castle of Hermitage, where he threw his unfortunate pri- 
soner, horse and man, into a dungeon, and left him to perish 
of hunger. It is said, the miserable captive prolonged his 
existence for several days by the corn which fell from a gra- 
nary above the vault in which he was confined. * So weak 
was the royal authority, that David, although highly incensed 
at this atrocious murder, found himself obliged to appoint the 



* There is something affecting in the manner in which the old 
Prior of Lochlevin turns from describing the death of the gallant 
Ramsay, to the general sorrow which it excited : 

To tell yon there of the manere, 
It is bot sorow for til here ; 
He wes the grettast menyd man 
That ony cowth have thowcht of than, 
Of his state, or of mare be fare ; 
All menyt him, bath better and war ; 
The ryche and pure him menyde bath, 
For of his dede was mekil skath. 



Some years ago, a person digging for stones, about the old castle 
of Hermitage, broke into a vault, containing a quantity of chaff, 
some bones, and pieces of iron ; amongst others, the curb of an 
ancient bridle, which the author has since given to the Earl of 
Dalhousie, under the impress'ion, that it possibly may be a re- 
lique of his brave ancestor. The worthy clergyman of the pa- 
rish has mentioned this discovery in his statistical account of 
Castletown. 



NOTES TO CANTO SECOND. 251 

knight of Liddesdale successor to his victim, as sheriff of Te- 
viotdale. But he was soon after slain, while hunting in Et- 
trick Forest, by his own godson and chieftain, William, Earl of 
Douglas, in revenge, according to some authors, of Ramsay's 
murder: although a popular tradition, preserved in a ballad 
quoted by Godscroft, and some parts of which are still pre- 
served, ascribes the resentment of the earl to jealousy. The 
place where the knight of Liddesdale was killed is called, 
from his name, William-Cross, upon the ridge of a hill called 
William-Hope, betwixt Tweed and Yarrow. His body, accord- 
ing to Godscroft, was carried to Lindean church the first night 
after his death, and thence to Melrose, where he was interred 
with great pomp, and where his tomb is still shewn. 

Note XI. 
The moon on the east oriel shone. — P. 50. 
It is impossible to conceive a more beautiful specimen of 
the lightness and elegance of Gothic architecture, when in its 
purity, than the eastern window of Melrose Abbey. Sir James 
Hall of Dunglass, Bart, has, with great ingenuity and plausibi- 
lity, traced the Gothic order through its various forms, and 
seemingly eccentric ornaments, to an architectural imitation 
of wicker work ; of which, as we learn from some of the le- 
gends, the earliest Christian churches were constructed. In 
such an edifice, the original of the clustered pillars is traced to 
a set of round posts, begirt with slender rods of willow, whose 
loose summits were brought to meet from all quarters, and 



252 NOTES TO CANTO SECOND. 

bound together artificially, so as to produce the frame-work of 
the roof : and the tracery of our Gothic windows is displayed 
in the meeting and interlacing of rods and hoops, affording an 
inexhaustible variety of beautiful forms of open work. This in- 
genious system is alluded to in the romance. Sir James Hall's 
Essay on Gothic Architecture is published in The Edinburgh 
Philosophical Transactions. 

Note X. 
They sate them down on a marble stone, 
A Scottish monarch, slept below. — P. 51. 
A large marble stone, in the chancel of Melrose, is pointed 
out as the monument of Alexander II., one of the greatest of 
our early kings ; others say it is the resting place of Waldeve, 
one of the early abbots, who died in the odour of sanctity. 

Note XI. 
« The wondrous Michael Scott. — P. 51. 



Sir Michael Scott of Balwearie nourished during the 13th 
century, and was one of the ambassadors sent to bring the 
Maid of Norway to Scotland upon the death of Alexander III. 
By a poetical anachronism, he is here placed in a later aera. 
He was a man of much learning, chiefly acquired in foreign 
countries. He wrote a commentary upon Aristotle, printed at 
Venice in 1496; and several treatises upon natural philoso- 
phy, from which he appears to have been addicted to the 
abstruse studies of judicial astrology, alchemy, physiognomy, 



NOTES TO CANTO SECOND. 253 

and chiromancy. Hence he passed among his contemporaries 
for a skilful magician. Dempster informs us, that he remem- 
bers to have heard in his youth, that the magic books of Michael 
Scott were still in existence, but could not be opened without 
danger, on account of the malignant fiends who were thereby 
invoked. Dempsteri Historia Ecclesiastica, 1627, lib. xii. 
p. 495. Lesly characterises Michael Scott, as singularii phi- 
losophic, astronomic, ac medicine, laude prestans ; dicebatur 
penitissimos magic recessus indagasse." Dante also mentions 
him as a renowned wizard : 



Quell altro chi ne' fianchi e cosi poco 
Michele Scoto fu, chi veramente 
Delle magiche frode seppe il gioco. 

Divina Comedia, Canto xxmo, 



A personage, thus spoken of by biographers and historians, 
loses little of his mystical fame in vulgar tradition. Accord- 
ingly, the memory of Sir Michael Scott survives in many a le- 
gend ; and in the south of Scotland, any work of great labour 
and antiquity is ascribed, either to the agency of Auld Michael, 
of Sir William Wallace, or of the devil. Tradition varies con- 
cerning the place of his burial : some contend for Holme Col- 
trame, in Cumberland; others for Melrose Abbey. But all 
agree, that his books of magic were interred in his grave, or 
preserved in the convent where he died. Satchelis, wishing to 
give some authority for his account of the origin of the name 



254 NOTES TO CANTO SECOND. 

of Scott, pretends, that, in 1629, he chanced to be at Burgh 
under Bowness, in Cuuiberland, where a person, named Lance- 
lot Scott, shewed him an extract from Michael Scott's works, 
containing that story : 



" He said the book which he gave me 

Was of Sir Michael Scot's historie ; 

Which history was never yet read through, 

Nor never will, for no man dare it do. 

Young scholars have pick'd out something 

From the contents, that dare not read within. 

He carried me along the castle then, 

And shevv'd his written book hanging on an iron pie. 

His writing pen did seem to me to be 

Of hardened metal, like steel, or accumie ; 

The volume of it did seem so large to me, 

As the book of Martyrs and Turks historie. 

Then in the church he let me see 

A stone where Mr Michael Scott did lie ; 

I asked at him how that could appear, 

Mr Michael had been dead above five hundred year? 

He shew'd me none durst bury under that stone, 

More than he had been dead a few years agone; 

For Mr Michael's name does terrifie each one." 

History rf the Right Honourable Name of Scot. 



Note XII. 
Salamanca' 's cave. — P. 52. 



Spain, from the reliques, doubtless, of Arabian learning and 
superstition, was accounted a favourite residence of magicians. 
Pope Sylvester, who actually imported from Spain the use of 
the Arabian numerals, was supposed to have learned there the 



NOTES TO CANTO SECOND. 255 

magic, for which he was stigmatised by the ignorance of his 
age. — William of Malmsbury, lib. ii. cap. 10. There were pub- 
lic schools, where magic, or rather the sciences supposed to in- 
volve its mysteries, were regularly taught, at Toledo, Seville, 
and Salamanca. In the latter city, they were held in a deep 
cavern ; the mouth of which was walled up by Queen Isabella, 
wife of King Ferdinand. — D'Autun on Learned Incredulity, 
p. 45. These Spanish schools of magic are celebrated also by 
the Italian poets of romance : 



Questo citta di Tolletto solea 
Tenere studio di Negromanzia, 
Quivi di magica arte si leggea 
Puhblicainente, e di Peromanzia; 
E molti Geomanti sempre avea 
E sperimenti assai d' Tetremanzia 
E d' altre false opinion di sciocchi 
Come e fatture, o spesso batter gli occhi. 

II Morgante Maggiore, Canto XXV. St. 259. 



The celebrated magician Maugis, cousin to Rinaldo of Mont- 
alban, called, by Ariosto, Malagigi, studied the black art at 
Toledo, as we learn from L'Histoire de Maugis D y Aygremont. 
He even held a professor's chair in the necromantic universi- 
ty; for so I interpret the passage, " qn'en tons les sept ars 
d? 'enchant ement, des charmes et conjurations , il n'y avoit meil- 
leur maistre que lui ; et en tel renom qu'on le laissoit en 
chaise, et Vappelloit on maistre Maugis." This Salamancan 
Domdaniel is said to have been founded by Hercules. If the 



256 NOTES TO CANTO SECOND. 

classic reader enquires where Hercules himself learned magiq 
he may consult " Les faicts et proesses du noble et vaillant 
Hercules" where he will learn, that the fable of his aiding 
Atlas to support the heavens, arose from the said Atlas having 
taught Hercules, the noble knight errant, the seven liberal 
sciences, and, in particular, that of judicial astrology. Such, 
according to the idea of the middle ages, were the studies, 
" maximus qua docuit Atlas." — In a romantic history of Rode- 
ric, the last Gothic king of Spain, he is said to have entered 
one of those enchanted caverns. It was situated beneath an 
ancient tower near Toledo : and, when the iron gates, which 
secured the entrance, were unfolded, there rushed forth so 
dreadful a whirlwind, that hitherto no one had dared to pene- 
trate into its recesses. But Roderic, threatened with an in- 
vasion of the Moors, resolved to enter the cavern, where he 
expected to find some prophetic intimation of the event of the 
war. Accordingly, his train being furnished with torches, so 
artificially composed, that the tempest could not extinguish 
them, the king, with great difficulty, penetrated into a square 
hall, inscribed all over with Arabian characters. In the midst 
stood a colossal statue of brass, representing a Saracen wield- 
ing a Moorish mace, with which it discharged furious blows on 
all sides,*and seemed thus to excite the tempest which raged 
around. Being conjured by Roderic, it ceased from striking, 
until he read, inscribed on the right hand, " Wretched monarch, 
for thy evil hast thou come hither ;" on the left hand, " Thou 
shalt be dispossessed by a strange people ;" on one shoulder, " I 



NOTES TO CANTO SECOND. 257 

invoke the sons ofHagar;" on the other, " I do mine office" 
When the king had decyphered these ominous inscriptions, the 
statue returned to its exercise, the tempest commenced anew, 
and Roderic retired, to mourn over the predicted evils which 
approached his throne. He caused the gates of the cavern to 
be locked and barricaded ; but, in the course of the night, the 
tower fell with a tremendous noise, and under its ruins con- 
cealed for ever the entrance to the mystic cavern. The con- 
quest of Spain by the Saracens, and the death of the unfortu- 
nate Don Roderic, fulfilled the prophecy of the brazen statue. 
Historia verdadera del Rey Don Rodrigo por el sabio Alcayde 
Abulcacim, traduzeda de la lengua A'rabiga por Miquel de Lu- 
na, 1654, cap. vi. 

Note XIII. 
The bells would ring in Notre Dame* — P. 52. 
" Tantamne rem tarn negligenter ?" says Tyrwhitt, of his 
predecessor Speight ; who, in his commentary on Chaucer, had 
omitted, as trivial and fabulous, the story of Wade and his 
boat Guingelot, to the great prejudice of posterity, the me- 
mory of the hero and the boat being now entirely lost. That 
future antiquaries may lay no such omission to my charge, I 
have noted one or two of the most current traditions concern- 
ing Michael Scott. He was chosen, it is said, to go upon an 
embassy, to obtain from the king of France satisfaction for 
certain piracies committed by his subjects upon those of Scot- 
land. Instead of preparing a new equipage and splendid reti- 



258 NOTES TO CANTO SECOND. 

nue, the ambassador retreated to his study, opened his book, 
and evoked a fiend in the shape of a huge black horse, 
mounted upon his back, and forced him to fly through the air 
towards France. As they crossed the sea, the devil insidious- 
ly asked his rider, What it was that the old women of Scot- 
land muttered at bed-time ? A less experienced wizard might 
have answered, that it was the Pater Noster, which would have 
licensed the devil to precipitate him from his back. But Mi- 
chael sternly replied, " What is that to thee ? Mount, Diabo- 
lus,and fly !" When, he arrived at Paris, he tied his horse to 
the gate of the palace, entered, and boldly delivered his mes- 
sage. An ambassador, with so little of the pomp and circum- 
stance of diplomacy, was not received with much respect, and 
the king was about to return a contemptuous refusal to his 
demand, when Michael besought him to suspend his resolution 
till he had seen his horse stamp three times. The first stamp 
shook every steeple in Paris, and caused all the bells to ring; 
the second threw down three of the towers of the palace ; and 
the infernal steed had lifted his hoof to give the third stamp, 
when the king rather chose to dismiss Michael, with the most 
ample concessions, than to stand to the probable consequences. 
Another time it is said, that, when residing at the tower of 
Oakwood, upon the Ettricke, about three miles above Selkirk » 
he heard of the fame of a sorceress, called the witch of False- 
hope, who lived on the opposite side of the river. Michael 
went one morning to put her skill to the test, but was disap- 
pointed, by her denying positively any knowledge of the ne- 



NOTES TO CANTO SECOND. 259 

eromantic art. In his discourse with her, he laid his wand in- 
advertently on the table, which the hag observing, suddenly 
snatched it up, and struck him with it. Feeling the force of 
the charm, he rushed out of the house ; but, as it had confer- 
red on him the external appearance of a hare, his servant, who 
waited without, halloo'd upon the discomfited wizard his own 
greyhounds, and pursued him so close, that, in order to obtain 
a moment's breathing to reverse the charm, Michael, after a 
very fatiguing course, was fain to take refuge in his own jaw- 
hole (anglice, common sewer.) In order to revenge himself 
of the witch of Falsehope, Michael, one morning in the ensu- 
ing harvest, went to the hill above the house with his dogs, and 
sent down his servant to ask a bit of bread from the good- wife 
for his greyhounds, with instructions what to do if he met with 
a denial. Accordingly, when the witch had refused the boon 
with contumely, the servant, as his master had directed, laid 
above the door a paper, which he had given him, containing, 
amongst many cabalistical words, the well-known rhyme, — 

Maister Michael Scott's man 
Sought meat, and gat nane. 

Immediately the good old woman, instead of pursuing her 
domestic occupation, which was baking bread for the reapers, 
began to dance round the fire, repeating the rhyme, and con- 
tinued this exercise till her husband sent the reapers to the 
house, one after another, to see what had delayed their pro- 



260 NOTES TO CANTO SECOND. 

vision j but the charm caught each as they entered, and, losing 
all idea of returning, they joined in the dance and chorus. At 
length the old man himself went to the house ; but as his 
wife's frolic with Mr Michael, whom he had seen on the hill, 
made him a little cautious, he contented himself with looking 
in at the window, and saw the reapers at their involuntary ex- 
ercise, dragging his wife, now completely exhausted, sometimes 
round, and sometimes through the fire, which was, as usual, in 
the midst of the house. Instead of entering, he saddled a horse, 
and rode up the hill, to humble himself before Michael, and 
beg a cessation of the spell ; which the good-natured warlock 
immediately granted, directing him to enter the house back- 
wards, and, with his left hand, take the spell from above the 
door ; which accordingly ended the supernatural dance. — This 
tale was told less particularly in former editions, and I have 
been censured for inaccuracy in doing so. — A similar charm 
occurs in Huon du Bourdeuux, and in the ingenious Oriental 
tale, called the Caliph Vathek. 

Notwithstanding his victory over the witch of Falsehope, 
Michael Scott, like his predecessor Merlin, fell at last a victim 
to female art. His wife, or concubine, elicited from him the 
secret, that his art could ward off any danger except the poison- 
ous qualities of broth, made of the flesh of a breme sow. Such 
a mess she accordingly administered to the wizard, who died 
in consequence of eating it ; surviving, however, long enough 
to put to death his treacherous confidante. 



NOTES TO CANTO SECOND. 261 



Note XIV. 

The words, that cleft Eildon Hills in three, 
And bridled the Tweed with a curb of stone. — P. 52. 
Michael Scott was, once upon a time, much embarrassed by 
a spirit, for whom he was under the necessity of finding con- 
stant employment. He commanded him to build a cauld, or 
dam-head, across the Tweed at Kelso ; it was accomplished 
in one night, and still does honour to the infernal architect. 
Michael next ordered, that Eildon hill, which was then a uni- 
form cone, should be divided into three. Another night was 
sufficient to part its summit into the three picturesque peaks 
which it now bears. At length the enchanter conquered this 
indefatigable demon, by employing him in the hopeless and 
endless task of making ropes out of sea-sand, 

Note XV. 
That lamp shall burn unquenchably. — P. 54. 
Baptista Porta, and other authors who treat of natural ma- 
gic, talk much of eternal lamps, pretended to have been found 
burning in ancient sepulchres. Fortunius Licetus investigates 
the subject in a treatise, De Lucernis antiquorum reconditis, 
published at Venice, 1621. One of these perpetual lamps is 
said to have been discovered in the tomb of Tulliola, the 
daughter of Cicero. The wick was supposed to be composed 
of asbestos. Kircher enumerates three different receipts for 
constructing such lamps ; and wisely concludes, that the thing; 



262 NOTES TO CANTO SECOND. 

is nevertheless impossible. — Mundus Subterraneus, p. 72. Del~ 
rio imputes the fabrication of such lights to magical skill. — Dj's- 
quisitiones Magica, p. 58. In a very rare romance, which " treat- 
eth of the lyfe of Virgilius, and of his deth, and many marvayles 
that he dyd in his lyfe-time, by wyche-crafte and nygraman- 
cye, throughe the help of the devyls of hell," mention is made 
of a very extraordinary process, in which one of these mystical 
lamps was employed. It seems, that Virgil, as he advanced in 
years, became desirous of renovating his youth by his magical 
art. For this purpose he constructed a solitary tower, having 
only one narrow portal, in which he placed twenty-four copper 
figures, armed with iron flails, twelve on each side of the 
porch. These enchanted statues struck with their flails inces- 
santly, and rendered all entrance impossible, unless when Vir- 
gil touched the spring, which stopped their motion. To this 
tower he repaired privately, attended by one trusty servant, to 
whom he communicated the secret of the entrance, and hither 
they conveyed all the magician's treasure. " Then sayde Vir- 
gilius, my dere beloved friende, and he that I above alle men 
truste and knowe mooste of my secret ;" and then he led the 
man into a cellar, where he made a fayer lamp at all seasons 
burnynge. And then sayd Virgilius to the man, " Se you the 
barrel that standeth here ?" and he sayd, yea : " Therein must 
you put me : fyrste ye must slee me, and hewe me smalle to 
pieces, and cut my hed in iiii pieces, and salte the heed under 
in the bottom, and then the pieces there after, and my herte 
in the myddel, and then set the barrel under the lampe, that 



NOTES TO CANTO SECOND. 26S 

nyghte and day the fat therein may droppe and leak; and ye 
shall ix dayes long, ones in the day, fyll the lampe, and fayle 
nat. And when this is all done, then shall I be renued, and 
made yonge agen." At this extraordinary proposal, the confi- 
dant was sore abashed, and made some scruple of obeying his 
master's commands. At length, however, he complied, and 
Virgil was slain, pickled, and barrelled up, in all respects ac- 
cording to his own direction. The servant then left the tower, 
taking care to put the copper thrashers in motion at his depar- 
ture. He continued daily to visit the tower with the same 
precaution. Meanwhile, the emperor, with whom Virgil was 
a great favourite, missed him from the court, and demanded 
of his servant where he was. The domestic pretended igno- 
rance, till the emperor threatened him with death, when at 
length he conveyed him to the enchanted tower. The same 
threat extorted a discovery of the mode of stopping the sta- 
tues from wielding their flails. " And then the emperour en- 
tered into the castle with all his folke, and sought all aboute 
in every corner after Virgilius ; and at the last they soughte 
so longe, that they came into the seller, where they sawe the 
lampe hang over the barrell, where Virgilius lay in deed. 
Then asked the emperor the man, who had made hym so 
herdy to put his mayster Virgilius so to dethe ; and the man 
answered no word to the emperour. And then the emperour, 
with great anger, drewe out his sworde, and slewe he there 
Virgilius' man. And when all this was done, then sawe the 
emperour, and all his folke, a naked childe iii tymes rennynge 



264 NOTES TO CANTO SECOND. 

about the barrell, sayinge these wordes, * Cursed be the tyme 
that ye ever came here !' And with those wordes vanyshed 
the chylde awaye, and was never sene ageyn ; and thus abyd 
Virgilius in the barrell deed." Virgilius, bl. let. printed at Ant- 
werpe by John Doesborcke. This curious volume is in the 
valuable library of Mr Douce ; and is supposed to be a trans- 
lation from the French, printed in Flanders for the English 
market. See Goujet Biblioth. Franc, ix. 225. Catalogue de 
la Bibliotheque Nationale, torn. II. p. 5. %)e JSure 9 No. 3857* 

Note XVI. 

He thought, as he took it, the dead man frozen' d* — P. 58. 

William of Deloraine might be strengthened in this belief 
by the well-known story of the Cid Ruy Diaz. When the bo- 
dy of that famous Christian champion was sitting in state by 
the high altar of the cathedral church of Toledo, where it re« 
mained for ten years, a certain malicious Jew attempted to 
pull him by the beard ; but he had no sooner touched the for- 
midable whiskers, than the corpse started up, and half un- 
sheathed his sword. The Israelite fled; and so permanent 
was the effect of his terror, that he became Christian. HEY- 
woods's Hier archie, p. 480, quoted from Sebastian Cobarruvias 
Crosee, 



NOTES TO CANTO SECOND. 265 



Note XVII. 
The Baron's Dwarf his courser held. — P. 64. 

The idea of Lord Cranstoun's Goblin Page is taken from 
h being called Gilpin Horner, who appeared, and made some 
stay, at a farm-house among the Border-mountains. A gentle- 
man of that country has noted down the following particulars 
concerning his appearance : — 

" The only certain, at least most probable account, that 
ever I heard of Gilpin Horner, was from an old man, of the 
name of Anderson, who was born, and lived all his life, at 
Todshawhill, in Eskedale-muir, the place where Gilpin appear- 
ed and staid for some time. He said there were two men, late 
in the evening, when it was growing dark, employed in fasten- 
ing the horses upon the uttermost part of the ground, (that is, 
tying their forefeet together, to hinder them from travelling 
far in the night,) when they heard a voice, at some distance, 
crying, ' Tint ! tint ! tint /' * one of the men, named Moffat, 
called out, * What de'il has tint you ? Come here.' Immedi- 
ately a creature, of something like a human form, appeared. 
It was surprisingly little, distorted in features, and mis-shapen 
in limbs. As soon as the two men could see it plainly, they 
ran home in a great fright, imagining they had met with some 
goblin. By the way Moffat fell, and it run over him, and was 

* Tint, signifies lost. 



266 NOTES TO CANTO SECOND. 

home at the house as soon as either of them, and staid there a 
long time ; but I cannot say how long. It was real flesh and 
blood, and ate and drank, was fond of cream, and, when it 
could get at it, would destroy a great deal. It seemed a mis- 
chievous creature ; and any of the children whom it could mas- 
ter, it would beat and scratch without mercy. It was once 
abusing a child belonging to the same Moffat, who had been 
so frightened by its first appearance; and he, in a passion, 
struck it so violent a blow upon the side of the head, that it 
tumbled upon the ground : but it was not stunned; for it set 
up its head directly, and exclaimed, ' Ah hah, Will o' Moffat, 
you strike sair !' (viz. sore.) After it had staid there long, one 
evening, when the women were milking the cows in the loan, 
it was playing among the children near by them, when sudden- 
ly they heard a loud shrill voice cry, three times, * Gilpin Hor- 
ner /' It started, and said, ' That is me, I must awayl and in- 
stantly disappeared, and was never heard of more. Old An- 
derson did not remember it, but said, he had often heard his 
father, and other old men in the place, who were there at the 
time, speak about it ; and in my younger years I have often 
heard it mentioned, and never met with any who had the re- 
motest doubt as to the truth of the story ; although, I must 
own, I cannot help thinking there must be some misrepresen- 
tation in it." — To this account, I have to add the following 
particulars from the most respectable authority. Besides con- 
stantly repeating the word tint ! tint ! Gilpin Horner was of- 



NOTES TO CANTO SECOND. 267 

ten heard to call upon Peter Bertram, or Be-teram, as he pro- 
nounced the word : and when the shrill voice called Gilpin 
Horner, he immediately acknowledged it was the summons of 
the said Peter Bertram ; who seems therefore to have been 
the devil who had tint, or lost, the little imp. As much has 
been objected to Gilpin Horner on account of his being sup- 
posed rather a device of the author than a popular supersti- 
tion, I can only say, that no legend which I ever heard seem- 
ed to be more universally credited, and that many persons of 
yery good rank and considerable information are well known 
to repose absolute faith in the tradition. 

Note XVIII. 

But the Ladye. of Branksome gathered a band, 
Of the best that would ride at her command. — P. 66. 
" Upon 25th June, 1557, Dame Janet Beautoune Lady Buc- 
cleuch, and a great number of the name of Scott, delaitit (ac- 
cused) for coming to the kirk of St Mary of the Lowes, to the 
number of two hundred persons bodin in feire of weire (array- 
ed in armour,) and breaking open the doors of the said kirk, 
in order to apprehend the laird of Cranstoune for his destruc- 
tion." On the 20th July, a warrant from the queen is pre- 
sented, discharging the justice to proceed against the Lady 
BuccJeuch while new calling. Abridgment of Books of Ad- 
journal in Advocates' Library. — The following proceedings 
upon this case appear on the record of the Court of Justi- 



268 NOTES TO CANTO SECOND. 

ciary : On the 25th of June, 1557, Robert Scott, of Bowhill 
parish, priest of the kirk of St Mary's, accused of the convo- 
cation of the Queen's lieges, to the number of 200 persons, in 
warlike array, with jacks, helmets, and other weapons, and 
marching to the chapel of St Mary of the Lowes, for the 
slaughter of Sir Peter Cranstoun, out of ancient feud and ma- 
lice prepense, and of breaking the doors of the said kirk, is 
repledged by the archbishop of Glasgow. The bail given by 
Robert Scott of Allenhaugh, Adam Scott of Burnefute, Robert 
Scott in Howfurde, Walter Scott in Todshawhaugh, Walter 
Scott younger of Synton, Thomas Scott of Hayning, Robert 
Scott, William Scott, and James Scott, brothers of the said 
Walter Scott, Walter Scott in the Woll, and Walter Scott, son 
of William Scott of Harden, and James Wemyss in Eckford, 
all accused of the same crime, is declared to be forfeited. On 
the same day, Walter Scott of Synton, and Walter Chisholme 
of Chisholme, and William Scott of Harden, became bound, 
jointly and severally, that Sir Peter Cranstoun, and his kin- 
dred and servants, should receive no injury from them in fu* 
ture. At the same time, Patrick Murray of Fallohill, Alex- 
ander Stuart, uncle to the laird of Trakwhare, John Murray 
of Newhall, John Fairlye, residing in Selkirk, George Tait 
younger of Pirn, John Pennycuke of Pennycuke, James Ram- 
say of Cokpen, the laird of Fassyde, and the laird of Hender- 
stoune, were all severally fined for not attending as jurors; 
being probably either in alliance with the accused parties, or 



NOTES TO CANTO SECOND. 269 

dreading their vengeance. Upon the 20th of July following, 
Scott of Synton, Chisholme of Chisholme, Scott of Harden, 
Scott of Howpaslie, Scott of Burnfute, with many others, are 
ordered to appear at next calling, under the pains of treason. 
But no farther procedure seems to have taken place. It is 
said, that, upon this rising, the kirk of St Mary was burned by 
the Scotts. 



NOTES TO CANTO III. 



Note I. 
When, dancing in the sunny beam, 
He marked the crane on the Baron 1 s crest, — P. 75. 
The crest of the Cranstouns, in allusion to their name, is a 
crane dormant, holding a stone in his foot, with an emphatic 
Border motto, Thou shalt want ere I want. 

Note II. 
Much he marvelled a knight of pride, 
Like a book-bosomed priest should ride. — P. 78. 
" At Unthank, two miles N. E. from the church (of Ewes,) 
there are the ruins of a chapel for divine service, in time of 
popery. There is a tradition, that friars were wont to come 
from Melrose, or Jedburgh, to baptise and marry in this pa- 
rish ; and, from being in use to carry the mass-book in their 
bosoms, they were called, by the inhabitants, Book-a-bosomes. 
There is a man yet alive, who knew old men who had been 
baptised by these Book-a-bosomes, and who says one of them, 



272 NOTES TO CANTO THIRD. 

called Hair, used this parish for a very long time." — Account 
of Parish of Ewes, apud Macfarlane's MSS. 

Note III. 
It had much of glamour might. — P. 79. 
Glamour, in the legends of Scottish superstition, means the 
magic power of imposing on the eye-sight of the spectators, so 
that the appearance of an object shall be totally different from 
the reality. The transformation of Michael Scott by the Witch 
of Falsehope, already mentioned, was a genuine operation of 
glamour. To a similar charm the ballad of Johnny Fa' imputes 
the fascination of the lovely Countess, who eloped with that 
gypsey leader : 



Sae soon as they saw her weel far'd face, 
They cast the glamour o'er her. 



It was formerly used even in war. In 1381, when the Duke 
of Anjou lay before a strong castle, upon the coast of Naples, 
a necromancer offered to " make the ayre so thycke, that 
they within shal thynke that there is a great bridge on the see 
(by which the castle was surrounded,) for ten men to go a 
front ; and whan they within the castle se this bridge, they 
wil be so afrayde, that they shall yelde them to your mercy. 
The Duke demanded — Fay re Master, on this bridge that ye 
speke of, may our people assuredly go thereon to the castell 
to assayle it ? Syr, quod the enchantour, I dare not assure 



NOTES TO CANTO THIRD. 273 

you that ; for if any that passeth on the bridge make the signe 
of the crosse on hym, all shall go to noughte, and they that 
be on the bridge shall fall into the see. Then the duke began 
to laugh j and a certain of young knightes, that were there 
present, said, Syr, for godsake, let the mayster essay his cun- 
ning ; we shal leve making of any signe of the crosse on us 
for that tyme." The Earl of Savoy, shortly after, entered the 
tent, and recognized in the enchanter the same person who 
had put the castle into the power of Sir Charles de la Payx, 
who then held it, by persuading the garrison of the Queen of 
Naples, through magical deception, that the sea was coming 
over the walls. The sage avowed the feat, and added, that he 
was the man in the world most dreaded by Sir Charles de 
la Payx. " By my fayth, quod the Erl of Savoy, ye say well; 
and I will that Syr Charles de la Payx shall know that he hath 
gret wronge to fear you. But I shall assure him of you ; for 
ye shall never do enchauntment to deceyve hym, nor yet none 
other. I wolde nat that in tyme to come we shulde be re- 
proached that in so high an enterprise as we be in, wherein 
there be so many noble knyghtes and squyres assembled, that 
we shulde do any thyng be enchauntment, nor that we shulde 
wyn our enemys by suche crafte. Than he called to him a 
servaunt, and sayd, Go and get a hangman, and let hym stryke 
of this mayster's heed without delay ; and as sone as the Erie 
had commaunded it, incontynent it was done, for his heed was 



274 NOTES TO CANTO THIRD. 

stryken of before the Erie's tent." — Froissart, vol.1, ch. 391, 
392. 

The art of glamour, or other fascination, was anciently 
a principal part of the skill of the jongleur, or juggler, whose 
tricks formed much of the amusement of a Gothic castle. 
Some instances of this art may be found in the Minstrelsy of 
the Scottish Border, vol. III. p. 119. In a strange allegorical 
poem, called the Houlat, written by a dependant of the house 
of Douglas, about 1452-3, the jay, in an assembly of birds, 
plays the part of the juggler. His feats of glamour are thus 
described : 



He gart them see, as it semyt, in samyn hour, 

Hunting at herdis in holtis so hair; 
Some sailand on the see schippis of toure, 
Bernis battalland on burd brim as a bare ; 
He coulde carye the coup of the kingis des, 
Syne leve in the stede, 
Bot a black bunwede ; 
He could of a henis hede, 
Make a man mes. 



He gart the Emproure trow, and trewlye behald, 

That the corner aik, the pundare at hand, 
Had poyndit all his pris hors in a poynd fald, 

Because thai ete of the corn in the kirkland. 
He could wirk windaris, quhat way that he wald ; 

Mak a gray gus a gold garland, 
A lang spere of a bittile for a berne bald, 

Nobilis of nutschelles, and silver of sand. 



NOTES TO CANTO THIRD. 275 

husjoukit with juxters the janglane ja, 
Fair ladyes in ringis, 
Knychtis in caratyngis, 
Bayth dansis and singis, 
It seray t as sa. 

Note IV. 
Now, if you ask who gave the stroke, 
I cannot tell, so mot I thrive ; 
It was not given by man alive. — P. 80. 
Dr Henry More, in a letter prefixed to Glanville's Saduch- 
mus Triumphatus, mentions a similar phenomenon. 

" I remember an old gentleman in the country, of my ac- 
quaintance, an excellent justice of peace, and a piece of a 
mathematician ; but what kind of a philosopher he was, you 
may understand from a rhyme of his own making, which he 
commended to me at my taking horse in his yard, which rhyme 
is this : 

Ens is nothing till sense finds out ; 

Sense ends in nothing, so naught goes about. 

Which rhyme of his was so rapturous to himself, that, on the 
reciting of the second verse, the old man turned himself about 
upon his toe as nimbly as one may observe a dry leaf whisked 
round in the corner of an orchard- walk by some little whirl- 
wind. With this philosopher I have had many discourses 
concerning the immortality of the soul and its distinction; 
when I have run him quite down by reason, he would but 



276 NOTES TO CANTO THIRD, 

laugh at me, and say, this is logic, H. (calling me by my Chris- 
tian name ;) to which I replyed, this is reason, father L. (for I 
used and some others to call him so ;) but it seems you are for 
the new lights, and immediate inspiration, which I confess he 
was as little for as for the other j but I said so only in way of 
drollery to him in those times, but truth is, nothing but palpa- 
ble experience would move him ; and J)eing a bold man, and 
fearing nothing, he told me he had used all the magical cere- 
monies of conjuration he Could, to raise the devil or a spirit, 
and had a most earnest desire to meet with one, but never 
could do it. But this he told me, when he did not so much as 
think of it, while his servant was pulling off his boots in the 
hall, some invisible hand gave him such a clap upon the back, 
that it made all ring again ; so, thought he now, I am invited 
to the converse of my spirit, and therefore, so soon as his boots 
were off, and his shoes on, out he goes into the yard and next 
field, to find out the spirit that had given him this familiar 
clap on the back, but found none neither in the yard nor field 
next to it. 

" But though he did not feel this stroke, albeit he thought it 
afterwards (finding nothing came of it) a mere delusion; yet, 
not long before his death,- it had more force with him than 
all the philosophical arguments I could use to him, though I 
could wind him and non-plus him as I pleased ; but yet all my 
arguments, how solid soever, made no impression upon him ; 
wherefore, after several reasonings of this nature, whereby 
I would prove to him the soul's distinction from the body, 



NOTES TO CANTO THIRD. 277 

and its immortality, when nothing of such subtile considera- 
tions did any more execution on his mind than some lightning 
is said to do, though it melts the sword, on the fuzzy consis- 
tency of the scabbard, — Well, said I, father L., though none 
of these things move you, I have something still behind, and 
what yourself has acknowledged to me to be true, that may 
do the business : — Do you remember the clap on your back 
when your servant was pulling off your boots in the hall ? 
Assure yourself, said I, father L., that goblin will be the first 
that will bid you welcome into the other world. Upon that 
his countenance changed most sensibly, and he was more con- 
founded with this rubbing up his memory, than with all the 
rational or philosophical argumentations that I could pro- 
duce." 

Note V. 
The running stream dissolved the spell. — P. 83. 
It is a firm article of popular faith, that no enchantment 
can subsist in a running stream. Nay, if you can interpose a 
brook betwixt you and witches, spectres, or even fiends, you 
are in perfect safety. Burns's inimitable Tarn o* Shanter 
turns entirely upon such a circumstance. The belief seems 
to be of antiquity. Brompton informs us, that certain Irish 
wizards could, by spells, convert earthen clods, or stones, into 
fat pigs, which they sold in the market; but which always 
re-assumed their proper form, when driven by the deceived 
purchaser across a running stream. But Brompton is severe 



278 NOTES TO CANTO THIRD. 

on the Irish, for a very good reason. " Gens Ista spurcissima 
non solvunt decimas." — Chronicon Johannis Brompton apud 
decern Scriptores, p. 1076. 

Note VI. 

His buckler scarce in breadth a span, 

No longer fence had he ; 
He never counted him a man, 

Would strike below the knee. — P. 86. 
Imitated from Drayton's account of Robin Hood and his 
followers : 

A hundred valiant men had this brave Robin Hood, 

Still ready at his call, that bowmen were right good ; 

All clad in Lincoln green, with caps of red and blue, 

His fellow's winded horn not one of them but knew. 

When setting to their lips their bugles shrill, 

The warbling echoes waked from every dale and hill ; 

Their bauldrics set with studs athwart their shoulders cast, 

To which under their arms their sheafs were buckled fast, 

A short sword at their belt, a buckler scarce a span, 

Who struck below the knee not counted then a man. 

All made of Spanish yew, their bows were wondrous strong, 

They not an arrow drew but was a clothyard long. 

Of archery they had the very perfect craft, 

With broad arrow, or but, or prick, or roving shaft. 

To wound an antagonist in the thigh, or leg, was reckoned 
contrary to the law of armes. In a tilt betwixt Gawain Mi- 
chael, an English squire, and Joachim Cathroe, a Frenchman, 
" they met at the speare poynts rudely : the French squyer 
justed right pleasantly; the Englyshman ran too lowe, for 



NOTES TO CANTO THIRD. 279 

he strak the Frenchman depe into the thygh. Wherwith 
the Erie of Buckingham was right sore displeased, and so 
were all the other lordes, and sayde how it v/as shamefully 
done." Froissart, vol. I. ch. 366. — Upon a similar occasion, 
" the two knyghts came a fote eche against other rudely, with 
their speares low couched, to stryke eche other within the 
foure quarters. Johan of Castel Morante strake the Englysh 
squyer on the brest in such wyse, that Sir Wyllyam Fermetone 
stombled and bowed, for his fote a lyttel fay led him. He helde 
his speare lowe with bothe his handes, and coude nat amende 
it, and strake Sir Johan of the Castell-Morante in the thighe, 
so that the speare went clene throughe, that the heed was 
sene a handfull on the other syde. And Syre Johan with the 
stroke reled, but he fell nat. Than the Englyshe knightes 
and squyers were ryghte sore displeased, and sayde how it 
was a foule stroke. Syr Wyllyam Fermetone excused him- 
selfe, and sayde how he was sorie of that adventure, and 
howe that yf he had knowen that it shulde have bene so, he 
wolde never have begon it ; sayenge how he could nat amende 
it, by cause of glaunsing of his fote by constraynt of the great 
stroke that Syr Johan of the Castell-Morante had given him." 
Ibid, ch. 373. 

Note VII. 
And with a charm she staunched the blood.— "P. 90. 
See several charms for this purpose in Reginald Scott's Dis' 
covery of Witchcraft, p. 273. 



280 NOTES TO CANTO THIRD. 

Tom Potts was but a serving man, 
But yet he was a doctor good ; 
He bound his handkerchief on the wound, 
And with some kind of words he staunched the blood. 
Pieces of ancient popular Poetry, Lond. 1791, p. 13l« 



Note VIII. 
But she has ta'en the broken lance. 

And washed it from the clotted gore, 
And salved the splinter o'er and o'er.— P. 90. 

Sir Kenelm Digby, in a discourse upon the cure by sj'mpa- 
thy, pronounced at Montpelier, before an assembly of nobles 
and learned men, translated into English by R. White, gentle- 
man, and published in 1658, gives us the following curious sur- 
gical case : 

" Mr James Howel (well known in France for his public 
works, and particularly for his Dendrologie, translated into 
French by Mons. Baudouin) coming by chance, as two of his 
best friends were fighting in duel, he did his endeavour to part 
them ; and, putting himselfe between them, seized, with his left 
hand, upon the hilt of the sword of one of the combatants, 
while, with his right hand, he laid hold of the blade of the 
other. They, being transported with fury one against the 
other, struggled to rid themselves of the hindrance their friend 
made, that they should not kill one another ; and one of them 
roughly drawing the blade of his sword, cuts to the very bone 
the nerves and muscles of Mr Howel's hand ; and then the 
other disengaged his hilts, and gave a crosse blow on his ad- 



NOTES TO CANTO THIRD. 281 

Tersarie's head, which glanced towards his friend, who heaving 
up his sore hand to save the blow, he was wounded on the 
back of his hand as he had been before within. It seems 
some strange constellation reigned then against him, that he 
should lose so much bloud by parting two such dear friends, 
who, had they been themselves, would have hazarded both 
their lives to have preserved his : but this involuntary effusion 
of bloud by them, prevented that which they sholde have 
drawn one from the other. For they, seeing Mr HoweFs face 
besmeared with bloud, by heaving up his wounded hand, they 
both ran to embrace him ; and, having searched his hurts, 
they bound up his hand with one of his garters, to close the 
veins which were cut, and bled abundantly. They brought 
him home, and sent for a surgeon. But this being heard at 
court, the king sent one of his own surgeons ; for his majesty 
much affected the said Mr Howel. 

" It was my chance to be lodged hard by him ; and four or 
five days after, as I was making myself ready, he came to my 
house, and prayed me to view his wounds ; ' for I understand,' 
said he, ' that you have extraordinary remedies on such occa- 
sions, and my surgeons apprehend some fear that it may grow 
to a gangrene, and so the hand must be cut off." In effect, his 
countenance discovered that he was in much pain, which he 
said was insupportable, in regard of the extreme inflammation. 
I told him I would willingly serve him ; but if haply he knew 
the manner how I would cure him, without touching or seeing 



282 NOTES TO CANTO THIRD. 

him, it may be he would not expose himself to my manner of 
curing, because he would think it, peradventure, either inef- 
fectual or superstitious. He replied, ' The wonderful things 
which many have related unto me of your way of medicine- 
ment, makes me nothing doubt at all of its efficacy ; and all 
that I have to say unto you, is comprehended in the Spanish 
proverb, Hagase el milagroy hetgalo Mahoma — Let the miracle 
be done, though Mahomet do it.' 

" I asked him then for any thing that had the blood upon 
it; so he presently sent for his garter, wherewith his hand 
was first bound : and as I called for a bason of water, as if I 
would wash my hands, I took a handful of powder of vitriol, 
which I had in my study, and presently dissolved it. As soon 
_as the bloudy garter was brought me, I put it within the ba- 
son, observing, in the interim, what Mr Howel did, who stood 
talking with a gentleman in a corner of my chamber, not re- 
garding at all what I was doing ; but he started suddenly, as if 
he had found some strange alteration in himself. I asked 
him what he ailed ? f I know not what ailes me ; but I finde 
that I feel no more pain. Methinks that a pleasing kinde of 
freshnesse, as it were a wet cold napkin, did spread over my 
hand, which hath taken away the inflammation that torment- 
ed me before.' I replyed, ' Since then that you feel already 
so good effect of my medicament, I advise you to cast away 
all your playsters ; only keep the wound clean, and in a mo- 
derate temper betwixt heat and cold.' This was presently 
reported to the Duke of Buckingham, and a little after to the 



NOTES TO CANTO THIRD. 28S 

king, who were both very curious to know the circumstance of 
the businesse, which was, that after dinner I took the garter 
out of the water, and put it to dry before a great fire. It was 
scarce dry, but Mr Howel's servant came running, that his 
master felt as much burning as ever he bad done, if not more; 
for the heat was such as if his hand were 'twixt coles of fire. 
I answered, although that had happened at present, yet he 
should find ease in a short time ; for I knew the reason of this 
new accident, and would provide accordingly; for his master 
should be free from that inflammation, it may be before he 
could possibly return to him ; but in case he found no ease, I 
wished him to come presently back again ; if not, he might 
forbear coming. Thereupon he went; and at the instant I 
did put again the garter into the water, thereupon he found 
his master without any pain at all. To be brief, there was 
no sense of pain afterward ; but within five or six dayes the 
wounds were cicatrized, and entirely healed." P. 6. 

The king (James VI.) obtained from Sir Kenelm the dis- 
covery of his secret, which he pretended had been taught him 
by a Carmelite friar, who had learned it in Armenia, or Persia. 
Let not the age of animal magnetism and metallic tractors 
smile at the sympathetic powder of Sir Kenelm Digby. Re- 
ginald Scott mentions the same mode of cure in these terms : 

" And that which is more strange they can remedie anie 

stranger with that verie sword wherewith they are wounded. 
Yea, and that which is beyond all admiration, if they stroke 
the sword upward with their fingers, the partie shall feele no 



284 NOTES TO CANTO THIRD. 

pain ; whereas, if they draw their fingers downwards, there- 
upon the partie wounded shall feele intolerable pain." I pre- 
sume that the success ascribed to the sympathetic mode of 
treatment might arise from the pains bestowed in washing 
the wound, and excluding the air, thus bringing on a cure 
by the first intention. It is introduced by Dryden in the 
Enchanted Island, a (very unnecessary) alteration of the Tem- 
pest : 

Ariel. Anoint the sword which pierced him with this 
Weapon-salve, and wrap it close from air, 
Till I have time to visit him again. — Act v. sc. 2» 

Again, in scene 4th, Miranda enters with Hippolito's sword 
wrapt up : 

Hip. O my wound pains me. [She unwraps the Sword, 

Mir. I am come to ease you. 

Hip. Alas, I feel the cold air come to me ; 
My wound shoots worse than ever. 

Mir, Does it still grieve you ? 

[She wipes and anoints the Sword t 

Hip> Now, methinks, there's something laid just upon it. 

Mir. Do you find no ease? 

Hip. Yes, yes ; upon the sudden all this pain 
Is leaving me. Sweet heaven, how I am eased ! 

Note IX. 
On Penchryst glows a bale ofjire, 
And three are kindling on Priethaughszoire. — P. 93. 
The Border beacons, from their number and position, form- 
ed a sort of telegraphic communication with Edinburgh. — The 

1 



NOTES TO CANTO THIRD. 285 

act of parliament 1455, c. 48, directs, that one bale, or faggot, 
shall be warning of the approach of the English in any manner; 
two bales, that they are coming indeed ; four bales, blazing be- 
side each other, that the enemy are in great force. " The 
same taikenings to be watched and maid at Eggerhope (Egger- 
stane) CasteH, fra they se the fire of Hume, that they fire right 
swa. And in like manner on Sowtra Edge, sail se the fire of 
Eggerhope Castell, and mak taikening in like manner : And 
then may all Louthaine be warned, and in special the Castell 
of Edinburgh ; and their four fires to be made in like manner, 
that they in Fyfe, and fra Striveling east, and the east part of 
Louthaine, and to Dunbar, all may se them, and come to the 
defense of the realme." These beacons (at least in latter 
times) were " a long and strong tree set up, with a long iron 
pole across the head of it, and an iron brander fixed on a stalk 
in the middle of it, for holding a tar-barrel." — Stevenson's 
History, vol. II. p. 701. 

Note X. 
Our kin, and clan, and friends, to raise. — P. 93. 
The speed with which the Borderers collected great bodies 
of horse, may be judged of from the following extract, when 
the subject of the rising was much less important than that sup- 
posed in the romance. It is taken from Carey's Memoirs : 

" Upon the death of the old Lord Scroop, the queen gave 
the west wardenry to his son, that had married my sister. He 



286 NOTES TO CANTO THIRD. 

having received that office, came to me with great earnestness, 
and desired me to be his deputy, offering me that I should live 
with him in his house ; that he would allow me half a dozen 
men, and as many horses, to be kept at his charge ; and his fee 
being 1000 marks yearly, he would part it with me, and I 
should have the half. This his noble offer I accepted of, and 
went with him to Carlisle; where I was no sooner come, but I 
entered into my office. We had a stirring time of it ; and few 
days past over my head but I was on horseback, either to pre- 
vent mischief, or take malefactors, and to bring the Border in 
better quiet than it had been in times past. One memorable 
thing, of God's mercy shewed unto me, was such as I had good 
cause still to remember it. 

" I had private intelligence given me, that there were two 
Scottish men, who had killed a churchman in Scotland, and 
were by one of the Graemes relieved. This Graeme dwelt 
within five miles of Carlisle. He had a pretty house, and close 
by it a strong tower, for his own defence in time of need.— 
About two o'clock in the morning, I took horse in Carlisle, and 
not above twenty-five in my company, thinking to surprise the 
house on a sudden. Before I could surround the house, the 
two Scots were gotten in the strong tower, and I could see a 
boy riding from the house as fast as his horse could carry him ; 
I little suspecting what it meant. But Thomas Carleton came 
to me presently, and told me, that if I did not presently pre- 
vent it, both myself and all my company would be either slain, 
or taken prisoners. It was strange to me to hear this Ian- 



NOTES TO CANTO THIRD. 287 

guage. He then said to me, * Do you see that boy that rideth 
away so fast ? He will be in Scotland within this half hour ; 
and he is gone to let them know, that you are here, and to 
what end you are come, and the small number you have with 
you ; and that if they will make haste, on a sudden they may 
surprise us, and do with us what they please." Hereupon we 
took advice what was best to be done. We sent notice pre- 
sently to all parts to raise the country, and to come to us with 
all the speed they could ; and withall we sent to Carlisle to 
raise the townsmen ; for without foot we could do no good 
against the tower. There we staid some hours, expecting 
more company ; and within short time after the country came 
in on all sides, so that we were quickly between three and four 
hundred horse ; and, after some longer stay, the foot of Car- 
lisle came to us, to the number of three or four hundred men; 
whom we presently set to work, to get up to the top of 
the tower, and to uncover the roof; and then some twenty of 
them to fall down together, and by that means to win the 
tower. — The Scots, seeing their present danger, offered to par- 
ley, and yielded themselves to my mercy. They had no sooner 
opened the iron gate, and yielded themselves my prisoners, but 
w : e might see 400 horse within a quarter of a mile coming to 
their rescue, and to surprise me and my small company; but 
on a sudden they stayed, and stood at gaze. Then had I more 
to do than ever; for all our Borderers came crying, with full 
mouths, ' Sir, give us leave to set upon them ; for these are 
they that have killed our fathers, our brothers, and uncles, and 



283 NOTES TO CANTO THIRD. 

our cousins ; and they are coming, thinking to surprise you* 
upon weak grass nags, such as they could get on a sudden ; 
and God hath put them into your hands, that we may take re* 
venge of them for much blood that they have spilt of ours.' I 
desired they would be patient a while, and bethought myself, if 
I should give them their will, there would be few or none of 
the Scots that would escape unkilled (there were so many 
deadly feuds among them) ; and therefore I resolved with my- 
self to give them a fair answer, but not to give them their de- 
sire. So I told them, that if I were not there myself, they 
might then do what pleased themselves ; but being present, if 
I should give them leave, the blood that should be spilt that 
day would lie very hard upon my conscience. And therefore 
I desired them, for my sake, to forbear ; and, if the Scots did 
not presently make away with all the speed they could, upon 
my sending to them, they should then have their wills to do 
what they pleased. They were ill satisfied with my answer, but 
durst not disobey. I sent with speed to the Scots, and bade 
them pack away with all the speed they could ; for if they 
stayed the messenger's return, they should few of them return 
to their own home. They made no stay ; but they were turn- 
ed homewards before the messenger had made an end of his 
message. Thus, by God's mercy, I escaped a great danger ; 
and, by my means, there were a great many men's lives saved 
that day." 



NOTES TO CANTO THIRD. 2 ^ 9 



Note IX. 
On many a cairn 7 s gray pyramid, 
Where urns of mighty chiefs lie hid. — P. 95. 
The cairns, or piles of loose stones, which crown the summit 
of most of our Scottish hills, and are found in other remark- 
able situations, seem usually, though not universally, to have 
been sepulchral monuments. Six flat stones are commonly 
found in the centre, forming a cavity of greater or smaller di- 
mensions, in which an urn is often placed. The author is pos- 
sessed of one, discovered beneath an immense cairn at Rough- 
lee, in Liddesdale. It is of the most barbarous construction ; 
the middle of the substance alone having been subjected to the 
fire, over which, when hardened, the artist had laid an inner 
and outer coat of unbaked clay, etched with some very rude 
ornaments ; his skill apparently being inadequate to baking the 
vase, when completely finished. The contents were bones and 
ashes, and a quantity of beads made of coal. This seems to 
have been a barbarous imitation of the Roman fashion of se- 
pulture. 



NOTES TO CANTO IV ? 



Note I. 

Great Dundee. — P. 102. 

The Viscount of Dundee, slain in the battle of Killicrankie. 

Note II. 
For pathless marshy and mountain cell, 
The peasant left his lowly shed. — P. 103. 
The morasses were the usual refuge of the Border herds- 
men, on the approach of an English army. — {Minstrelsy of 
the Scottish Border, vol. I. p. 49.) Caves, hewed in the most 
dangerous and inaccessible places, also afforded an occasional 
retreat. Such caverns may be seen in the precipitous banks 
of the Teyiot at Sunlaws, upon the Ale at Ancram, upon the 
Jed at Hundalee, and in many other places upon the Border. 
The banks of the Eske, at Gorton and Hawthornden, are hol- 
lowed into similar recesses. But even these dreary dens were 

not always secure places of concealment. " In the way as we 
4 



292 NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH, 

came, not far from this place (Long Niddry,) George Ferres, 

a gentleman of my Lord Protector's happened upon a 

cave in the grounde, the mouth whereof was so worne with 
the fresh printe of steps, that he seemed to be certayne thear 
wear sum folke within; and gone doune to trie, he was redily 
receyved with a hakebut or two. He left them not yet, till 
he had knowen wheyther thei would be content to yeld and 
come out ; which they fondly refusing, he went to my lorde's 
grace, and upon utterance of the thynge, gat lisence to deale 
with them as he coulde ; and so returned to them, with a skore 
or two of pioners. Three ventes had their cave, that we wear 
ware of, wherof he first stopt up on ; anoother he fill'd full of 
strawe, and set it a fyer, whereat they within cast water apace ; 
but it was so well maynteyned without, that the fyer prevay- 
led, and thei within fayn to get them belyke into anoother 
parler. Then devysed we (for I hapt to be with hym) to stop 
the same up, whereby we should eyther smoother them, or 
fynd out their vents, if thei hadde any moe : as this was done 
at another issue, about xii score of, we moughte see the fume 
of their smoke to come out ; the which continued with so 
great a force, and so long a while, that we could not but 
thinke they must needs get them out, or smoother within : and 
forasmuch as we found not that they dyd the tone, we thought 
it for certain thei wear sure of the toother." — Patten's Ac- 
count of Somerset* $ Expedition into Scotland, apud Dal yell's 
Fragments. 



NOTES TO CANTO FOUKTH. 293 



Note III. 
Southern ravage. — P. 103. 
From the following fragment of a letter from the Earl of 
Northumberland to King Henry VIII., preserved among the 
Cotton MSS. Calig. B. vii. 179, the reader may estimate the 
nature of the dreadful war which was occasionally waged upon 
the Borders, sharpened by mutual cruelties, and the personal 
hatred of the wardens, or leaders- 
Some Scottish barons, says the earl, had threatened to come 
within " three miles of my pore house of Werkworth, where I 
lye, and gif me light to put on my clothes at mydnyght ; and al- 
soo the said Marke Carr said there opynly, that, seyng they 
had a governor on the marches of Scotland, as well as they 
had in Ingland, he shulde kepe your highness instructions, gyf- 
fyn unto your garyson, for making of any day-forrey ; for he 
and his friends wolde burne enough on the nyght, lettyng your 
counsaill here defyne a notable acte at theyre pleasures. Up- 
on whiche, in your highnes' name, I comaundet dewe watche 
to be kepte on your marchies, for comyng in of any Scotts. 
— Neutheles, upon Thursday at night last, came thyrty light 
horsemen into a litil village of myne, called Whitell, having 
not past sex houses, lying towards Ryddisdaill, upon Shilbotell 
more, and ther wold have fyred the said howses, but ther was 
noo fyre to get there, and they forgate to brynge any withe 
theyme ; and toke a wyf, being great with chylde, in the said 
towne, and said to hyr, Wher we can not gyve the laird lyght, 



294 NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. 

yet we shall doo this in spyte of him j and gyve her iii mor- 
tall wounds upon the heid, and another in the right side, with 
a dagger : wheruppon the said wyf is deede, and the childe in 
her bely is loste. Beseeching your most gracious highnes to 
reduce unto your gracious memory this wylful and shamefull 
murder, done within this your highnes 7 realme, notwithstand- 
ing all the inhabitants thereabout rose unto the said fray, and 
gave warnynge by becons into the countrey afore theyme, and 
yet the Scottsmen dyde escape. And uppon certeyne know- 
ledge to my brother Clyfforthe and me, had by credable per- 
sons of Scotland, this abomynable act not only to be done by 
dy verse of the Mershe, but also the afore named persons of 
Tyvidaill, and consented to, as by appearance, by the Erie of 
Murey, upon Friday at night last, let slyp C of the best horse- 
men of Glendaill, with a parte of your highnes* subjects of Ber- 
wyke, together with George Dowglas, whoo came into Ingland 
agayne, in the dawning of the day ; but afore theyre retorne, 
they dyd mar the Earl of Murreys provisions at Coldingham : 
for they did not only burne the said town of Coldingham, with 
all the come thereunto belonging, which is esteemed wurthe 
cii marke sterling ; but alsoo burned twa townes nye adjoin- 
ing thereunto, called Branerdergest and the Black Hill, and 
toke xxiii persons, Ix horse, with cc hed of cataill, which 
nowe, as I am informed, hathe not only been a staye of the 
said Erie of Murrei's not coming to the Bordure as yet, but al- 
soo, that none inlande man will adventure theyr selfs uppon 
the marches. And as for the tax that shulde have been graun« 



NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. 295 

tyd for finding of the said iii hundred man, is utterly denyed. 
Upon which the king of Scotland departed from Edynburgh to 
Stirling, and as yet there doth remayn. And also I, by the ad- 
vice of my brother Clyfforth, have devysed, that within this iii 
nyghts, Godde willing, Kelsey, in lyke case, shall be brent, 
with all the come in the said town ; and then they shall have 
noo place to lye any garyson in nygh unto the Borders. And 
as I shall atteigne further knowledge, I shall not faill to satisfye 
your highnes, according to my most bounden dutie. And for 
this burnyng of Kelsey is devysed to be done secretly, by Tyn- 
daill and Ryddisdale. And thus the holy Trynite and *** 
your most royal estate, with long lyf, and as much increase of 
honour as your most noble heart can desire. At Werkworth, 
the xxiid day of October." (1522.) 

Note IV. 
Watt Tinlinn.— V. 108. 
This person was, in my younger days, the theme of many a 
fireside tale. He was a retainer of the Buccleuch family, and 
held for his Border service a small tower on the frontiers of 
Liddesdale. Watt was, by profession, a sutor, but, by inclina- 
tion and practice, an archer and warrior. Upon one occasion, 
the captain of Bewcastle, military governor of that wild dis- 
trict of Cumberland, is said to have made an incursion into 
Scotland, in which he was defeated, and forced to fly. Watt 
Tinlinn pursued him closely through a dangerous morass ; the 
captain, however, gained the firm ground j and seeing Tinlinn 



295 NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. 

dismounted, and floundering in the bog, used these words of in- 
sult : " Sutor Watt, ye cannot sew your boots ; the heels risp, 
and the seams rive" * — " If I cannot sew," — retorted Tinlinn, 
discharging a shaft, which nailed the captain's thigh to his sad- 
dle, — " If I cannot sew, I can yerk."f 

Note V. 
Bilhope Stag.-— J?. 104. 
There is an old rhyme, which thus celebrates the places in 
Liddesdale, remarkable for game : 



Bilhope braes for bucks and raes, 
And Carit haugh for swine, 

And Tarras for the good bull-trout, 
If he be ta'en in time. 



The bucks and roes, as well as the old swine, are now ex- 
tinct j but the good bull-trout is still famous. 

Note VI. 

Of silver broach and bracelet proud, — P. 104. 

As the Borderers were indifferent about the furniture of 

their habitations, so much exposed to be burnt and plundered, 

they were proportionally anxious to display splendour in deco- 



* Risp, creak. — Rive, tear. 

t YerJe, to twitch, as shoemakers do, in securing the stitches 
of their work. 



NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. 297 

rating and ornamenting their females. — See LeslY, de Moribus 
Limitaneorum. 

Note VII. 
Belted Will Howard.—?. 105. 
Lord William Howard, third son of Thomas, duke of Nor- 
folk, succeeded to Naworth Castle, and a large domain annex- 
ed to it, in right of his wife Elizabeth, sister of George Lord 
Dacre, who died without heirs male, in the 11th of Queen Eli- 
zabeth. By a poetical anachronism, he is introduced into the 
romance a few years earlier than he actually nourished. He 
was warden of the Western Marches ; and, from the rigour 
with which he repressed the Border excesses, the name of 
Belted Will Howard is still famous in our traditions. In the 
castle of Naworth, his apartments, containing a bed-room, 
oratory, and library, are still shewn. They impress us with 
an unpleasing idea of the life of a lord warden of the marches. 
Three or four strong doors, separating these rooms from the 
rest of the castle, indicate apprehensions of treacher}' from 
his garrison ; and the secret winding passages, through which 
he could privately descend into the guard-room, or even into 
the dungeons, imply the necessity of no small degree of secret 
superintendence on the part of the governor. As the ancient 
books and furniture have remained undisturbed, the venera- 
ble appearance of these apartments, and the armour scattered 
around the chamber, almost lead us to expect the arrival of the 
warden in person. Naworth Castle is situated near Bramp- 



298 NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. 

ton, in Cumberland. Lord William Howard is ancestor of the 
Earls of Carlisle. 

Note VIII. 
Lord Dacre. — P. 105. 
The well-known name of Dacre is derived from the exploits 
of one of their ancestors at the siege of Acre, or Ptolemais, un- 
der Richard Cceur de Lion. There were two powerful branches 
of that name. The first family, called Lord Dacres of the 
South, held the castle of the same name, and are ancestors to 
the present Lord Dacre. The other family, descended from 
the same stock, were called Lord Dacres of the North, and 
were barons of Gilsland and Graystock. A chieftain of the 
latter branch was warden of the West Marches during the 
reign of Edward VI. He was a man of a hot and obstinate 
character, as appears from some particulars of Lord Surrey's 
letter to Henry VIII., giving an account of his behaviour at the 
siege and storm of Jedburgh. It is printed in the Minstrelsy 
of the Scottish Border, Appendix to the Introduction. 

Note IX. 
The German hackbut-men. — P. 105. 
In the wars with Scotland, Henry VIII. and his successors, 
employed numerous bands of mercenary troops. At the battle 
of Pinky, there were in the English army six hundred hack- 
butters on foot, and two hundred on horseback, composed 
chiefly of foreigners. On the 27th September, 1549, the Duke 



NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH, 299 

*>f Somerset, Lord Protector, writes to the Lord Dacre, war- 
den of the West Marches : " The Almains, in number two 
thousand, very valiant soldiers, shall be sent to you shortly 
from Newcastle, together with Sir Thomas Holcroft, and with 
the force of your wardenry, (which we would were advanced 
to the most strength of horsemen that might be,) shall make 
the attempt to Loughmaben, being of no such strength but 
that it may be skailed with ladders, whereof, beforehand, we 
would you caused secretly some number to be provided ; or 
else undermined with the pyke-axe, and so taken : either to be 
kept for the king's majesty, or otherwise to be defaced, and 
taken from the profits of the enemy. And in like manner the 
house of Carlaverock to be used." Repeated mention occurs 
of the Almains, in the subsequent correspondence ; and the en r 
terprise seems finally to have been abandoned, from the diffi- 
culty of providing these strangers with the necessary " victuals 
and carriages in so poor a country as Dumfries-shire." History 
of Cumberland, vol. I. Introd. p. lxi. From the battle-pieces of 
the ancient Flemish painters, we learn, that the Low-Country 
and German soldiers marched to an assault with their right 
knees bared. And we may also observe, in such pictures, the 
extravagance to which they carried the fashion of ornamenting 
their dress with knots of ribband. This custom of the Germans 
is alluded to in the Mirrour for Magistrates, p 121. 

Their pleited garments therewith well accord, 
All jagde and frounst, with divers colours deckr. 



800 NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. 



Note X. 
His ready lances Thirlestane brave 

Arrayed beneath a banner bright. — P. 107. 
Sir John Scott of Thirlstaine flourished in the reign of James 
V., and possessed the estates of Thirlestaine, Gamescleuch, 
&c. lying upon the river of Ettricke, and extending to St Ma- 
ry's Loch, at the head of Yarrow. It appears, that when James 
had assembled his nobility, and their feudal followers, at Fala, 
Vith the purpose of invading England, and was, as is well 
known, disappointed by the obstinate refusal of his peers, this 
baron alone declared himself ready to follow the king where- 
ever he should lead. In memory of his fidelity, James granted 
to his family a charter of arms, entitling them to bear a border 
of fleurs-de-luce, similar to the tressure in the royal arms, with 
a bundle of spears for the crest ; motto, Ready, aye ready. 
The charter itself is printed by Nisbct ; but his work being 
scarce, I insert the following accurate transcript from the ori- 
ginal, in the possession of the Right Honourable Lord Napier, 
the representative of John of Thirlestaine. 

" James Rex. 
w We James, be the grace of God, king of Scottis, consider- 
ed the ffaith and guid servis of of of * right traist friend John 

* Sic in orig. 



NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. 801 

Scott of Thirlestane, quha cummand to our hoste at Soutra- 
edge, with three score and ten launcieres on horseback of his 
friends and followers, and beand willing to gang with ws into 
England, when all our nobles and others refuised, he was read- 
dy to stake all at our bidding ; ffor the quhilk cause, it is our 
will, and we doe straitlie command and charg our lion herauld, 
and his deputies for the time beand, to give and to graunt to 
the said John Scott, ane Border of fHeure de lises about his 
coatte of armes, sik as is on our royal banner, and alsua ane 
bundell of launces above his helmet, with thir words, Readdy, 
ay Readdy, that he and all his aftercummers may bruik the 
samine as a pledge and taiken of our guid will and kyndnes 
for his true worthines ; and thir our letters seen, ye nae wayes 
failzie to doe. Given at Ffalla Muire, under our hand and 
privy cashet, the xxvii day of July, m c and xxxii zieres. By 
the King's graces speciall ordinance. 

Jo. Arskine." 

On the back of the charter, is written, 
u Edin. 14. January, 1713. Registred, conform to the act of 
parliament made anent probative writs, per M'Kaile, pror. and 
produced by Alexander Borthwick, servant to Sir William 
Scott of Thirlestane. M. L. J." 



502 NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. 



Note XI. 
An aged knight, to danger steeled, 

With many a moss-trooper, came on ; 
And azure in a golden field, 
The stars and crescent graced his shield, 
Without the lend of Murdiestone. — P. 108. 
The family of Harden are descended from a younger son of 
the laird of Buccleuch, who flourished before the estate of 
Murdieston was acquired by the marriage of one of those chief- 
tains with the heiress, in 1296. Hence they bear the cogni- 
zance of the Scotts upon the field ; whereas those of the Buc- 
cleuch are disposed upon a bend dexter, assumed in conse- 
quence of that marriage. — See Gladstaine of Whitelazoc's 
MSS. and Scott of Stokoe's Pedigree, Newcastle, 178S. 

Walter Scott of Harden, who flourished during the reign of 
Queen Mary, was a renowned Border free-booter, concerning 
whom tradition has preserved a variety of anecdotes, some of 
which have been published in the Minstrelsy of the Scottish 
Border, and others inLEYDEN's Scenes of Infancy ; and others, 
more lately, in The Mountain Bard, a collection of Border bal- 
lads by Mr James Hog. The bugle horn, said to have been 
used by this formidable leader, is preserved by his descendant, 
the present Mr Scott of Harden. — His castle was situate upon 
the very brink of a dark and precipitous dell, through which 
a scanty rivulet steals to meet the Borthwick. In the recess of 
this glen he is said to have kept his spoil, which served for the 



NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. 303 

daily maintenance of his retainers, until the production of a 
pair of clean spurs, in a covered dish, announced to the hun- 
gry band, that they must ride for a supply of provisions. He 
was married to Mary Scott, daughter of Philip Scott of Dry- 
hope, and called in song the Flower of Yarrow. He possess- 
ed a very extensive estate, which was divided among his five 
sons. There are numerous descendants of this old marauding 
baron. The following beautiful passage of Leyden's Scenes of 
Infancy, is founded on a tradition respecting an infant captive, 
whom Walter of Harden carried off in a predatory incursion, 
and who is said to have become the author of some of our most 
beautiful pastoral songs : 

Where Bortha hoarse, that loads the meads with sand, 
Rolls her red tide to Teviot's western strand, 
Through slaty hills, whose sides are shagged with thorn, 
"Where springs, in scattered tufts, the dark-green corn, 
Towers wood-girt Harden, far above the vale, 
And clouds of ravens o'er the turrets sail. 
A hardy race, who never shrunk from war, 
The Scott, to rival realms a mighty bar, 
Here fixed his mountain-home ; — a wide domain, 
And rich the soil, had purple heath been grain ; 
But what the niggard ground of wealth denied, 
From fields more blessed his fearless arm supplied. 

The waning harvest-moon shone cold and bright ; 
The warder's horn was heard at dead of night ; 
And, as the massy portals wide were flung, 
"With stamping hoofs the rocky pavement rung. 
"What fair, half-veiled, leans from her latticed hall, 
Where red the wavering gleams of torch-light fall* 



304 NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. 

'Tis Yarrow's fairest Flower, who, through the gloom, 
Looks, wistful, for her lover's dancing plume. 
Amid the piles of spoil, that strewed the ground, 
Her ear, all anxious, caught a wailing sound; 
With trembling haste the youthful matron flew, 
And from the hurried heaps an infant drew. 

Scared at the light, his little hands he flung 
Around her neck, and to her bosom clung ; 
While beauteous Mary soothed, in accents mild, 
His fluttering soul, and clasped her foster child. 
Of milder mood the gentle captive grew, 
Nor loved the scenes that scared his infant view ; 
In vales remote, from camps and castles far, 
He shunned the fearful shuddering joy of war; 
Content the loves of simple swains to sing, 
Or wake to fame the harp's heroic string. 

His are the strains, whose wandering echoes thrill 
The shepherd, lingering on the twilight hill, 
When evening brings the merry folding hours, 
And sun-eyed daisies close their winking flowers. 
He lived, o'er Yarrow's Flower to shed the tear, 
To strew the holly leaves o'er Harden s bier ; 
But none was found above the minstrel's tomb, 
Emblem of peace, to bid the daisy bloom : 
He, nameless as the race from which he sprung, 
Saved other names, and left his own unsung. 



Note XII. 
Scotts of Eskdale, a stalwart band. — P. 109. 
In this, and the following stanza, some account is given of 
the mode in which the property of the valley of Esk was trans- 
ferred from the Eeattisons, its ancient possessors, to the name 
of Scott. It is needless to repeat the circumstances, which 



NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. 305 

are given in the poem, literally as they have been preserved 
by tradition. Lord Maxwell, in the latter part of the six- 
teenth century, took upon himself the title of Earl of Morton. 
The descendants of Beattison of Woodkerricke, who aided the 
earl to escape from his disobedient vassals, continued to hold 
these lands within the memory of man, and were the only 
Beattisons who had property in the dale. The old people give 
locality to the story, by showing the Galliard's Haugh, the 
place where Buccleuch's men were concealed, &c. 

Note XIII. 
Their gathering word was Bellenden. — P. 114. 
Bellenden is situated near the head of Borthwick water, and, 
being in the centre of the possessions of the Scotts, was fre- 
quently used as their place of rendezvous and gathering word. 
— Survey of Selkirkshire, in Macfarlane's MSS. Advocates' 
Library. Hence Satchells calls one part of his genealogical ac- 
count of the families of that clan, his Bellenden. 

Note XIV. 
The camp their home, their law the sword. 
They knew no country, owned no lord. — P. 119. 
The mercenary adventurers, whom, in 1380, the Earl of 
Cambridge carried to the assistance of the King of Portugal 
against the Spaniards, mutinied for want of regular pay. At 
an assembly of their leaders, Sir John Soltier, a natural son of 
Edward the Black Prince, thus addressed them : " I counsayle, 
v 



S06 NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. 

let us be alle of one alliance, and of one accorde, and let us 
among ourselves reyse up the baner of St George, and let us be 
frendes to God, and enemyes to alle the worlde; for without 
we make ourselfe to be feared, we gette nothing." 

" By my fayth," quod Sir William Helmon, " ye saye right 
well, and so let us do." They all agreed with one voyce, 
and so regarded among them who shulde be their capitayne. 
Then they advysed in the case how they coude nat have a bet* 
ter capitayne than Sir John Soltier. For they sulde than have 
good leyser to do yvell, and they thought he was more mete- 
Iyer therto than any other. Than they raised up the penon of 
St George, and cried, " A Soltier ! a Soltier ! the valyaunt 
bastarde ! frendes to God, and enemies to all the worlde !" 
Froissart, vol. I. ch. 393. 

Note XV. 
A gauntlet on a spear. — P. 122. 
A glove upon a lance was the emblem of faith among the 
ancient Borderers, who were wont, when any one broke his 
word, to expose this emblem, and proclaim him a faithless vil- 
lain at the first Border meeting. This ceremony was much 
dreaded. See Lesly. 

Note XVI. 
We claim from thee William ofDeloraine f 
That he may suffer march-treason pain.— P. 124. 
Several species of offences, peculiar to the Border, constitu- 



NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. 307 

ted what was called march-treason. Among others, was the 
crime of riding, or causing to ride, against the opposite coun- 
try during the time of truce. This, in an indenture made at 
the water of Eske, beside Salom, the 25th day of March, 1334, 
betwixt noble lords and mighty, Sirs Henry Percy, Earl of 
Northumberland, and Archibald Douglas, Lord of Galoway, 
a truce is agreed upon until the 1st day of July ; and it is ex- 
pressly accorded, " Gif ony stellis authir on the ta part, or on 
the tothyr, that he shall be henget or heofdit ; and gif ony cum- 
pany stellis any gudes within the trieux beforesayd, ane of that 
company sail be henget or heofdit, and the remanant sail re- 
store the gudys stolen in the dubble."-— History of Westmore- 
land and Cumberland, Introd. p. xxxix. 

Note XVII. 

— — — — William of Deloraine 



Will cleanse him, by oath, of march-treason stain, 

P. 126. 
In dubious cases, the innocence of Border criminals was oc- 
casionally referred to their own oath. The form of excusing 
bills, or indictments, by Border-oath, ran thus : " You shall 
swear by heaven above you, hell beneath you, by your part of 
Paradise, by all that God made in six days and seven nights, 
and by God himself, you are whart out sackless of art, part, 
way, witting, ridd, kenning, having, or recetting of any of the 
goods and cattels named in this bill. So help you God."-— 
History of Cumberland, Introd. p. xxv. 



308 NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. 



Note XVIII. 
Knighthood he took of Douglas sword.— ¥. 126. 
The dignity of knighthood, according to the original insti- 
tution, had this peculiarity, that it did not flow from the mo- 
narch, but could be conferred by one who himself possessed it, 
upon any squire who, after due probation, was found to merit 
the honour of chivalry. Latterly, this power was confined to 
generals, who were wont to create knights bannerets after or 
before an engagement. Even so late as the reign of Queen 
Elizabeth, Essex highly offended his jealous sovereign by the 
indiscriminate exertion of this privilege. Amongst others, he 
knighted the witty Sir John Harrington, whose favour at court 
was by no means enhanced by bis new honours. — See the Nu- 
ga Antigua, edited by Mr Park. But probably the latest in- 
stance of knighthood, conferred by a subject, was in the case 
of Thomas Ker, knighted by the Earl of Huntley, after the de- 
feat of the Earl of Argyle in the battle of Belrinnes. The fact 
is attested, both by a poetical and prose account of the engage- 
ment, contained in an ancient MS. in the Advocates' Library, 
and lately edited by Mr Dalyell, in Godly Sangs and Ballets, 
Edin. 1802. 

Note XIX. 
When English blood swelled Ancramford. — P. 126. 
The battle of Ancram Moor, or Peniel-heuch, was fought 
A. D. 1545. The English, commanded by Sir Ralph Evers, 



NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. 309 

and Sir Brian Latoun, were totally routed, and both their lead- 
ers slain in the action. The Scottish army was commanded 
by Archibald Douglas, Earl of Angus, assisted by the laird of 
Buccleuch and Norman Lesly. 

Note XX. 

The blanche lion. — P. 130. 
This was the cognizance of the noble house of Howard in 
all its branches. The crest, or bearing, of a warrior, was often 
used as a nomme de guerre. Thus Richard III. acquired his 
well-known epithet, The Boar of York. In the violent satire 
on Cardinal Wolsey, written by Roy, commonly, but errone- 
ously, imputed to Dr Bull, the Duke of Buckingham is called 
the Beautiful Swan, and the Duke of Norfolk, or Earl of Sur- 
rey, the White Lion. As the book is extremely rare, and the 
whole passage relates to the emblematical interpretation of he- 
raldry, it shall be here given at length. 

The Description of the Armes. 

Of the proud Cardinal this is the shelde, 
Borne up betwene two angels of Sathan ; 
The sixe bloudy axes in a bare felde, 
Sheweth the crueltie of the red man, 
Which hath devoured the Beautiful Swan, 
Mortal enemy unto the Whyte Lion, 
Carter of Yorke, the vyle butcher's sonne. 



310 NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. 

The sixe bulles heddes in a felde blacke, 

Betokenetb his stordy furiousness, 

Wherefore, the godly lyght to put abacke. 

He bryngeth in his dyvlish darcnes ; 

The bandog in the meddes doth expresse 

The mastiff curre bred in Ypswich towne, 

Gnawynge with his teth a kinges crowne. 

The cloubbe signifieth playne his tiranny, 

Covered over with a Cardinal's hatt, 

Wherein shall be fulfilled the prophecy, 

Aryse up, Jacke, and put on thy salatt, 

For the tyme is come of bagge and walatt. 

The temporall chevalry thus thrown doune, 

Wherfor, prest, take hede, and beware tby crowne. 

There are two copies of this very scarce satire in the libra- 
ry of the late John, Duke of Roxburgh. See an account of it 
also in Sir Egerton Brydges' curious Miscellany, the Censura 
Literaria. 

Note XXI. 
Let Musgrave meet fierce Deloraine 

In single fight. P. 130. 

It may easily be supposed, that trial by single combat, so pe- 
culiar to the feudal system, was common on the Borders. In 
1558, the well-known Kirkaldy of Grange fought a duel with 
Ralph Evre, brother to the then Lord Evre, in consequence of 
a dispute about a prisoner said to have been ill treated by the 
Lord Evre. Pitscottie gives the following account of the af- 
fair : <{ The Lord of Ivers his brother provoked William Kir- 



NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. 311 

ealdy of Grange to fight with him, in singular combat, on 
horseback, with spears; who, keeping the appointment, ac- 
companied with Monsieur d'Ossel, lieutenant to the French 
king, and the garrison of Haymouth, and Mr Ivers, accompa- 
nied with the governor and garrison of Berwick, it was dis- 
charged, under the pain of treason, that any man should come 
near the champions within a flight-shot, except one man for 
either of them, to bear their spears, two trumpets, and two 
lords to be judges. When they were in readiness, the trumpets 
sounded, the heraulds cried, and the judges let them go. Then 
they encountered very fiercely ; but Grange struck his spear 
through his adversary's shoulder, and bare him off his piorse, 
being sore wounded : But whether he died, or not, it is uncer- 
tain."— P. 202. 

The following indenture will show at how late a period the 
trial by combat was resorted to on the Border, as a proof of 
guilt or innocence : 

" It is agreed between Thomas Musgrave and Lancelot 
Carleton, for the true trial of such controversies as are be- 
twixt them, to have it openly tried by way of combat, before 
God and the face of the world, to try it in Canonbyholme, be- 
fore England and Scotland, upon Thursday in Easter-week, 
being the eight day of April next ensuing, A. D. 1602, betwixt 
nine of the clock, and one of the same day, to fight on foot, 
to be armed with jack, steel cap, plaite sleeves, plaite breaches, 
plaite sockes, two basleard swords, the blades to be one yard 
and half a quarter of length, two Scotch daggers, or dorks, at 



312 NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH, 

their girdles, and either of them to provide armour and wea- 
pons for themselves, according to this indenture. Two gentle- 
men to be appointed, on the field, to view both the parties, to 
see that they both be equal in arms and weapons, according to 
this indenture ; and being so viewed by the gentlemen, the gen- 
tlemen to ride to the rest of the company, and to leave them 
but two boys, viewed by the gentlemen, to be under sixteen 
years of age, to hold their horses. In testimony of this our 
agreement, we have both set our hands to this indenture, of in- 
tent all matters shall be made so plain, as there shall be no 
question to stick upon that day. Which indenture, as a wit- 
ness, shall be delivered to two gentlemen. And for that it is 
convenient the world should be privy to every particular of the 
grounds of the quarrel, we have agreed to set it down in this 
indenture betwixt us, that, knowing the quarrel, their eyes may 
be witness of the trial. 

The Grounds of the Quarrel. 
u 1. Lancelot Carleton did charge Thomas Musgrave before 
the lords of her majesty's privy council, that Lancelot Carleton 
was told by a gentleman, one of her majesty's sworn servants, 
that Thomas Musgrave had offered to deliver her majesty's cas- 
tle of Bewcastle to the king of Scots ; and to witness the same, 
Lancelot Carleton had a letter under the gentleman's own hand 
for his discharge. 

" 2. He chargeth him, that whereas her majesty doth yearly 
bestow a great fee upon him, as captain of Bewcastle, to aid 



NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. 313 

and defend her majesty's subjects therein ; Thomas Musgrave 
hath neglected his duty, for that her majesty's castle of Bew- 
castle was by him made a den of thieves, and an harbour and 
receipt for murderers, felons, and all sorts of misdemeanors. 
The precedent was Quintin Whitehead and Runion Black- 
burne. 

" 3. He chargeth him, that his office, of Bewcastle is open for 
the Scotch to ride in and through, and small resistance made 
by him to the contrary. 

" Thomas Musgrave doth deny all this charge; and saith, 
that he will prove that Lancelot Carleton doth falsely bely him, 
and will prove the same by way of combat, according to this 
indenture. Lancelot Carleton hath entertained the challenge; 
and so, by God's permission, will prove it true as before, and 
hath set his hand to the same. 

(Signed) Thomas Musgrave. 

Lancelot Carleton." 

Note XXII. 
i/e, the jovial Harper. — P. 134. 
The person here alluded to, is one of our ancient Border 
minstrels, called Rattling Roaring Willie. This soubriquet was 
probably derived from his bullying disposition ; being, it would 
seem, such a roaring boy, as is frequently mentioned in old 
plays. While drinking at Newmill, upon Teviot, about five 
miles above Hawick, Willie chanced to quarrel with one of his 
©wn profession, who was usually distinguished by the odd name 



314 NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. 

of Sweet Milk, from a place on Rule water so called. They 
retired to a meadow, on the opposite side of the Teviot, to de- 
cide the contest with their swords, and Sweet Milk was killed 
on the spot. A thorn-tree marks the scene of the murder, 
which is still called Sweet Milk Thorn. Willie was taken and 
executed at Jedburgh, bequeathing his name to the beautiful 
Scotch air, called ** Rattling Roaring Willie." Ramsay, who 
set no value on traditionary lore, published a few verses of this 
song in the Tea Table Miscellany, carefully suppressing all 
which had any connection with the history of the author, and 
origin of the piece. In this case, however, honest Allan is in 
some degree justified, by the extreme worthlessness of the 
poetry. A verse or two may be taken, as illustrative of the 
history of Roaring Willie, alluded to in the text. 

Now Willie's gane to Jeddart, 

And he's for the rood-day ; * 
But Stobs and young Falnash, f 

They followed him a' the way ; 
They followed him a' the way, 

They sought him up and down, 
In the links of Ousenam water, 

They fand him sleeping sound. 

Stobs lighted aff his horse, 

And never a word he spak, 
Till he tied Willie's hands 

IV fast behind his back; 



* The day of the Rood-fair at Jedburgh. 

+ Sir Gilbert Elliot of Stobs, and Scott of Falnash. 



NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. 315 

Fu' fast behind his back, 

And down beneath his knee, 
And drink wiil be dear to Willie, 

When sweet milk * gars him die. 

Ah wae light on ye, Stobs ! 

An ill death mot ye die ! 
Ye're the first and foremost man 

That e'er laid bands on me; 
That e'er laid hands on me, 

And took my mare me frae ; 
Wae to you, Sir Gilbert fclliot ! 

Ye are my mortal fae ! 

The lasses of Ousenam water 

Are rugging and riving their hair, 
And a' for the sake of Willie, 

His beauty was so fair : 
His beauty was so fair, 

And comely for to see, 
And drink will be dear to Willie, 

When sweet milk gars him die. 



Note XXIII. 
Black Lord Archibald's battle laws, 
In the old Douglas' day. — P. 134. 
The title to the most ancient collection of Border regulations 
runs thus : 

" Be it remembered, that, on the 18th day of December, 
1468, Earl William Douglas assembled the whole lords, free- 
holders, and eldest Borderers, that best knowledge had, at the 

• A wretched pun on his antagonist's name. 



316 NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. 

college of Linclouden ; and there he caused those lords and 
Borderers bodily to be sworn, the Holy Gospel touched, that 
they, justly and truly, after their cunning, should decrete, de- 
cern, deliver, and put in order and writing, the statutes, ordi- 
nances, and uses of marche, that were ordained in Black Ar- 
chibald of Douglas's days, and Archibald his son's days, in time 
of warfare ; and they came again to him advisedly with these 
statutes and ordinances, which were in time of warfare before. 
The said Earl William^ seeing the statutes in writing decreed 
and delivered by the said lords and Borderers, thought them 
right speedful and profitable to the Borderers ; the which sta- 
tutes, ordinances, and points of warfare, he took, and the 
whole lords and Borderers he caused bodily to be sworn, that 
they should maintain and supply him at their goodly power, to 
do the law upon those that should break the statutes under- 
written. Also, the said Earl William^ and lords, and eldest 
Borderers, made certain points to be treason in time of warfare 
to be used, which were no treason before his time, but to be 
treason in his time, and in all time coming." 



NOTES TO CANTO V. 



Note I. 
The Bloody Heart blazed in the Van, 

Announcing Douglas, dreaded name* — P, 144. 
The chief of this potent race of heroes, about the date of the 
poem, was Archibald Douglas, seventh Earl of Angus, a man 
of great courage and activity. The Bloody Heart was the well- 
known cognizance of the house of Douglas, assumed from the 
time of good Lord James, to whose care Robert Bruce com- 
mitted his heart, to be carried to the Holy Land. 

Note II. 

■■ -The Seven Spears of Wedderburne. — P. 144. 

Sir David Home of Wedderburn, who was slain in the fatal 
battle of Flodden, left seven sons by his wife, Isabel, daughter 
of Hoppringle of Galashiels (now Pringle of Whitebank.) They 
were called the Seven Spears of Wedderburne. 



318 NOTES TO CANTO FIFTH. 



Note III. 
And Swinton laid the lance in rest, 
That tamed of yore the sparkling crest 
Of Clarence's Plantagenet. — P. 144. 
At the battle of Beauge, in France, Thomas, Duke of Cla- 
rence, brother to Henry V., was unhorsed by Sir John Swinton 
of Swinton, who distinguished him by a coronet set with pre- 
cious stones, which he wore around his helmet. The family of 
Swinton is one of the most ancient in Scotland, and produced 
many celebrated warriors. 

Note IV. 
Beneath the crest of old Dunbar, 

And Hepburn's mingled banners, come, 
Down the steep mountain glittering far, 
And shouting still, " A Home ! a Home !" — P. 146. 
The Earls of Home, as descendants of the D unbars, ancient 
Earls of March, carried a lion rampant, argent ; but, as a dif- 
ference, changed the colour of the shield from gules to vert, 
in allusion to Greenlaw, their ancient possession. The slogan, 
or war-cry, of this powerful family, was, " A Home ! a Home !" 
It was anciently placed in an escrol above the crest. The hel- 
met is armed with a lion's head erased gules, with a cap of 
state gules, turned up ermine. 

The Hepburns, a powerful family in East Lothian, were usu- 
ally in close alliance with the Homes. The chief of this clan 

10 



NOTES TO CANTO FIFTH. 319 

was Hepburn, Lord of Hailes ; a family which terminated in 
the too famous Earl of Bothwell. 

Note V. 
Pursued the foot-ball play. — P. 147. 
The foot-ball was anciently a very favourite sport all through 
Scotland, but especially upon the Borders. Sir John Carmichael. 
of Carmichael, warden of the middle marches, was killed in 
1600 by a band of the Armstrongs, returning from a foot-bali 
match. Sir Robert Carey, in his Memoirs, mentions a great 
meeting, appointed by the Scottish riders to be held at Kelso, 
for the purpose of playing at foot -ball, but which terminated 
in an incursion upon England. At present the foot-ball is of- 
ten played by the inhabitants of adjacent parishes, or of the 
opposite banks of a stream. The victory is contested with the 
utmost fury, and very serious accidents have sometimes taken 
place in the struggle. 

Note VI. 
'Twixt truce and war, such sudden change 
Was not unfrequent, nor held strange, 
In the old Border day. — P. 148. 
Notwithstanding the constant wars upon the Borders, and 
the occasional cruelties which marked the mutual inroads, the 
inhabitants on either side do not appear to have regarded each 
other with that violent and personal animosity, which might 
have been expected. On the contrary, like the outposts of 



S20 NOTES TO CANTO FIFTH. 

hostile armies, they often carried on something resembling 
friendly intercourse, even in the middle of hostilities ; and it 
is evident, from various ordinances against trade and inter- 
marriages between English and Scottish Borderers, that the go- 
vernments of both countries were jealous of their cherishing 
too intimate a connection. Froissart says of both nations, that 
" Englyshemen on the one party, and Scottes on the other par- 
ty, are good men of warre ; for when they meet, there is a 
harde fight without sparynge. There is no hoo (truce) be- 
tween them, as long as spears, swords, axes, or daggers, will 
endure, but lay on eche upon uther; and whan they be well 
beaten, and that the one party hath obtained the victory, they 
then gloryfye so in theyre dedes of armes, and are so joyfull, 
that such as be taken they shall be ransomed, or that they go 
out of the felde ; so that shortly eche of them is so content 
with other, that, at their departynge, curtyslye they will say, 
God thank you." — Berners' Froissart, vol. II. p. 153. The 
Border meetings of truce, which, although places of merchan- 
dise and merriment, often witnessed the most bloody scenes, 
may serve to illustrate the description in the text. They are 
vividly pourtrayed in the old ballad of the Reidsquair. Both 
parties came armed to a meeting of the wardens, yet they in- 
termixed fearlessly and peaceably with each other in mutual 
sports and familiar intercourse, until a casual fray arose : 



Then was there nought but bow and spear, 
And every man pulled out a brand. 



NOTES TO CANTO FIFTH. 321 

In the 29th stanza of this Canto, there is an attempt to ex- 
press some of the mixed feelings, with which the Borderers on 
each side were led to regard their neighbours. 

Note VII. 
And frequent, on the darkening plain, 

Loud hollo, whoop, or whistle ran ; 
As hands, their stragglers to regain, 

Gave the shrill watch-word of their clan. — P. 149. 
Patten remarks, with bitter censure, the disorderly conduct 
of the English Borderers, who attended the Protector Somer- 
set on his expedition against Scotland. " As we wear then a 
setling, and the tents a setting up, among all things els com- 
mendable in our hole journey, one thing seemed to me an in- 
tollerable disorder and abuse ; that whearas allways, both in 
all tounes of war, and in all campes of armies, quietnes and 
stilnes, without nois, is, principally in the night, after the watch 
is set, observed, (I nede not reason why,) our northern prik- 
kers, the Borderers, notwithstandyng, with great enormitie, (as 
thought me,) and not unlike (to be playn) unto a masteries 
hounde howlyng in a hie wey when he hath lost him he wait- 
ed upon, sum hoopynge, sum whistlyng, and most with crying, 
A Berwyke, a Berwyke ! A Fenwyke, a Fenwyke ! A Bulmer, 
a Bulmer ! or so otherwise as theyr captains names wear, ne- 
ver lin'de these troublous and dangerous noyses all the nyghte 
longe. They said, they did it to finde their captain and fellows ; 
but if the souldiers of our oother countreys and sheres had 
x 



322 NOTES TO CANTO FIFTH. 

used the same maner, in that case we should have oft tymes 
had the state of our camp more like the outrage of a dissolute 
huntyng, than the quiet of a well ordred armye. It is a feat 
of war, in mine opinion, that might right well be left. I could 
reherse causes (but yf I take it, they are better unspoken than 
uttred, unless the faut wear sure to be amended) that might 
shew thei move alweis more peral to our armie, but in their 
one nyght's so doynge, than they shew good service (as sum 
sey) in a hool vyage."-— Apud Dalzell's Fragments, p. 75. 

Note VIII. 
Cheer the dark blood-hound on his zoay, 
And with the bugle rouse the fray. — P. 169. 
The pursuit of Border marauders was followed by the inju- 
red party and his friends with blood-hounds and bugle-horn, 
and was called the hot- trod. He was entitled, if his dog could 
trace the scent, to follow the invaders into the opposite king- 
dom ; a privilege which often occasioned blood-shed. In ad- 
dition to what has been said of the blood-hound, I may add, 
that the breed was kept up by the Buccleuch family on their 
Border estates till within the 18th century. A person was 
alive in the memory of man, who remembered a blood-hound 
being kept at Eldinhope, in Ettricke Forest, for whose main- 
tenance the tenant had an allowance of meal. At that time 
the sheep were always watched at night. Upon one occasion, 
when the duty had fallen on the narrator, then a lad, he be- 
came exhausted with fatigue, and fell asleep, upon a bank, near 



NOTES TO CANTO FIFTH. 323 

sun-rising. Suddenly he was awakened by the tread of horses, 
and saw five men, well mounted and armed, ride briskly over 
the edge of the hill. They stopped and looked at the flock ; 
but the day was too far broken to admit the chance of their 
carrying any of them off One of them, in spite, leaped from 
his horse, and, coming to the shepherd, seized him by the belt 
he wore round his waist, and, setting his foot upon his body, 
pulled it till it broke, and carried it away with him. They 
rode off at the gallop ; and, the shepherd giving the alarm, the 
blood-hound was turned loose, and the people in the neighbour- 
hood alarmed. The marauders, however, escaped, notwith- 
standing a sharp pursuit. This circumstance serves to show 
how very long the licence of the Borderers continued in some 
degree to manifest itself. 



NOTES TO CANTO VI. 



Note I. 
Breathes there the man, with soul so dead, fyc. — P. 175. 
The influence of local attachment has been so exquisitely 
painted by my friend Mr Polwhele, in the poem which bears 
that title, as might well have dispensed with the more feeble 
attempt of any contemporary poet. To the reader who has 
not been so fortunate as to meet with this philosophical and 
poetical detail of the nature and operations of the love of our 
country, the following brief extract cannot fail to be accept- 
able :— 



Yes — Home still charms : and he, who, clad in fur, 
His rapid reio-deer drives o'er plains of snow, 

Would rather to the same wild tracts recur 
That various life had marked with joy or woe, 
Than wander, where the spicy breezes blow 



326 NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH, 



To kiss the hyacinths of Azza's hair 

Rather, than where luxuriant bummers glow, 
To the white mosses of his hills repair, 
And bid his antler-train the simple banquet share. 



Note II. 
She wrought not by forbidden spell. — P. 179. 

Popular belief, though contrary to the doctrines of the 
church, made a favourable distinction betwixt magicians, and 
necromancers, or wizards ; the former were supposed to com- 
mand the evil spirits, and the latter to serve, or at least to be 
in league and compact with those enemies of mankind. The 
arts of subjecting the demons were manifold ; sometimes the 
fiends were actually swindled by the magicians, as in the case 
of the bargain betwixt one of their number and the poet Vir- 
gil. The classical reader will doubtless be curious to peruse 
this anecdote : 

« Virgilius was at scole at Tolenton, where he stodyed dy- 
lygently, for he was of great understandynge. Upon a tyme, 
the scolers had lycense to go to play and sporte them in the 
fyldes, after the usance of the holde tyme. And there was 
also Virgilius therbye, also walkynge among the hylles alle 
about. It fortuned he spyed a great hole in the syde of a 
great hyll, wherein he went so depe, that he culd not see no 
more lyght ,* and than he went a lytell farther therin, and than 
he saw some lyght agayne, and than he went forthe streyghte, 
and within a lytyll wyle after he harde a voyce that called, 
4 Virgilius! Virgilius !' and looked aboute, and he colde nat 



NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. 327 

see no body. Than sayd he, (i. e. the voice,) ( Virgilius, see ye 
not the lytyll bourde lying bysyde you there markd with that 
word?' Than answered Virgilius, « I see that borde well 
anough.' The voyce said, * Doo awaye that borde, and lette 
me out there atte.' Than answered Virgilius to the voice that 
was under the lytell borde, and sayd, * Who art thou that 
callest me so ?' Than answered the devyll, ' I am a devyll 
conjured out of the body of a certeyne man, and banysshed 
here tyll the day of judgmend, without that I be delyvered 
by the handes of men. Thus, Virgilius, I pray the, delyvere 
me out of this payn, and I shall shewe unto the many bokes 
of negromancye, and how thou shalt come by it lyghtly, and 
know the practyse therein, that no man in the scyence of ne- 
gromancye shall passe the. And moreover, I shall shewe and 
enforme the so, that thou shalt have alle thy desyre, whereby 
mythinke it is a great gyfte for so lytyll a doyng. For ye may 
also thus all your power frendys helpe, and make ryche your 
enemyes.' — Thorough that great promyse was Virgilius tempt- 
ed ; he badde the fynd show the bokes to him, that he might 
have and occupy them at his wyll ; and so the fynde shewed 
hym. And than Virgilius pulled open a bourde, and there 
was a lytell hole, and thereat wrang the devyll out lyke a yeel, 
and cam and stode before Virgilius lyke a bygge man ; wherof 
Virgilius was astonied and marveyled greatly thereof, that so 
great a man myght come out at so lytyll a hole. Than sayd 
Virgilius, c Shulde ye well passe into the hole that ye cam out 
©f ?'—< Yea, I shall well/ said the devyl. « I holde the best 



328 NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. 

plegge that I have, that ye shall not do it,' — ' Well,' sayd the 
devyll, * thereto I consent.' And than the devyll wrange him- 
selfe into the lytyll hole ageyne j and as he was therein, Virgi- 
lius kyverd the hole ageyne with the bourde close, and so was 
the devyll begyled, and myght nat there come out agen, but 
abydeth shytte styll therein. Than called the devyll dredefully 
to Virgilius, and said, c What have ye done, Virgilius ?' Virgi- 
lius answered, ' Abyde there styll to your day appoynted ;' and 
fro thens forth abydeth he there. — And so Virgilius became 
very connynge in the practyse of the black scyence." 

This story may remind the reader of the Arabian tale of the 
Fisherman and the imprisoned Genie ; and it is more than pro- 
bable, that many of the marvels narrated in the life of Virgil are 
of oriental extraction. Among such I am disposed to reckon 
the following whimsical account of the foundation of Naples, 
containing a curious theory concerning the origin of the earth- 
quakes with which it is afflicted. Virgil, who was a person of 
gallantry, had, it seems, carried off the daughter of a certain 
Soldan, and was anxious to secure his prize. 

" Than he thought in his mynde howe he myghte mareye 
hyr, and thought in his mynde to founde in the middes of the 
see a fayer towne, with great landes belongynge to it ; and so 
he dyd by his cunnynge, and called it Napells. And the fan- 
dacyon of it was of egges, and in that town of Napells he 
made a tower with iiii corners, and in the toppe he set an ap- 
pell upon an yron yarde, and no man culde pull away that 
apell without he brake it ; and thoroughe that yren set he a 



NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. 329 

bolte, and in that bolte set he a egge. And he henge the apell 
by the stauke upon a cheyne, and so hangeth it still. And when 
the egge styrreth, so shulde the towne of Napells quake ; and 
whan the egge brake, than shulde the towne sinke. Whan he 
had made an ende, he lette call it Napells." This appears to 
have been an article of current belief during the middle ages, 
as appears from the statutes of the order Du Saint Esprit, au 
droit desir, instituted in 1352. A chapter of the knights is ap- 
pointed to be held annually at the Castle of the Enchanted 
Egg, near the grotto of Virgil.— Montfaucon, vol. II. p. 329. 

Note III. 

A merlin sat upon her wrist. — P. 179. 
A merlin, or sparrow-hawk, was usually carried by ladies of 
rank, as a falcon was, in time of peace, the constant attendant 
of a knight, or baron. See Latham on Falconry. — Godscroft 
relates, that, when Mary of Lorraine was regent, she pressed 
the Earl of Angus to admit a royal garrison into his castle of 
Tantallon. To this he returned no direct answer ; but, as if 
apostrophising a goss-hawk, which sat on his wrist, and which 
he was feeding during the Queen's speech, he exclaimed, 
" The devil's in this greedy glade, she will never be full." — 
Hume's History of the House of Douglas, 1748, vol. II. p. 131. 
Barclay complains of the common and indecent practice ©f 
bringing hawks and hounds into churches. 



330 NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. 



Note IV. 
And princely peacock's gilded train. — P. 180. 
The peacock, it is well known, was considered, during the 
times of chivalry, not merely as an exquisite delicacy, but as a 
dish of peculiar solemnity. After being roasted, it was again 
decorated with its plumage, and a spunge, dipt in lighted spi- 
rits of wine, was placed in its bill. When it was introduced 
on days of grand festival, it was the signal for the adventurous 
knights to take upon them vows to do some deed of chivalry, 
" before the peacock and the ladies." 

Note V. 

And o'er the boars-head, garnished brave. — P. 180. 

The boar's head was also an usual dish of feudal splendour. 

In Scotland it was sometimes surrounded with little banners, 

displaying the colours and achievements of the baron, at whose 

board it was served. — Pinkerton's History <, vol. I. 432. 

Note VI. 
And cygnet from St Mary's wave. — P. 180. 
There are often flights of wild swans upon St Mary's Lake, 
at the head of the river Yarrow. 



NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. 331 



Note VIL 
Smote, with his gauntlet, stout Hunthill. — P. 182, 
The Rutherfords of Hunthill were an ancient race of Bor- 
der lairds, whose names occur in history, sometimes as defend- 
ing the frontier against the English, sometimes as disturbing 
the peace of their own country. Dickon Draw-the-sword was 
son to the ancient warrior, called in tradition the Cock of 
Hunthill. 

Note VIII. 
But bit his glove, and shook his head. — P. 182. 
To bite the thumb, or the glove, seems not to have been con- 
sidered, upon the Border, as a gesture of contempt, though so 
used by Shakspeare, but as a pledge of mortal revenge. It is 
yet remembered, that a young gentleman of Teviotdale, on the 
morning after a hard drinking-bout, observed, that he had bit- 
ten his glove. He instantly demanded of his companion, with 
whom he had quarrelled ? and learning that he had had words 
with one of the party, insisted on instant satisfaction, asserting, 
that though he remembered nothing of the dispute, yet he was 
sure he never would have bit his glove unless he had received 
some unpardonable insult. He fell in the duel, which was 
fought near Selkirk, in 1721. 



m. NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. 



Note IX. 
■■ Arthur Fir e-t he-braes. — P. 183. 
The person, bearing this redoubtable nomme de guerre, was 
an Elliot, and resided at Thorleshope, in Liddesdale. He oc- 
curs in the list of Border riders, in 1 597. 

Note X. 
Since old Buccleuch the name did gain, 
When in the cleuch the buck was ta'en. — P. 184. 
A tradition, preserved by Scott of Satchells, who published, 
in 1688, A true History of the Right Honourable Name of 
Scott, gives the following romantic origin of that name. Two 
brethren, natives of Galloway, having been banished from that 
country for a riot, or insurrection, came to Rankelburn, in 
Ettricke forest, where the keeper, whose name was Brydone, 
received them joyfully, on account of their skill in winding the 
n orn, and in the other mysteries of the chace.— Kenneth Mac- 
Alpin, then king of Scotland, came soon after to hunt in the 
royal forest, and pursued a buck from Ettricke-heuch to the 
glen now called Buckleuch, about two miles above the junc- 
tion of Rankelburn with the river Ettricke. — Here the stag 
stood at bay ; and the king and his attendants, who followed 
on horseback, were thrown out by the steepness of the hill 
and the morass. John, one of the brethren from Galloway, 
had followed the chace on foot; and now coming in, seized 
the buck by the horns, and, being a man of great strength and 



NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. 833 

activity, threw him on his back, and run with his burthen about 
a mile up the steep hill, to a place called Cracra-Cross, where 
Kenneth had halted, and laid the buck at the sovereign's 
feet.* 

The deer being curee'd in that place, 

At his Majesty's demand, 
Then John of Galloway ran apace, 

And fetched water to his hand. 
The king did wash into a dish, 

And Galloway John he wot ; 
He said, " Thy name now after this 

Shall ever be called John Scot. 

" The forest, and the deer therein, 

We commit to thy hand, 
For thou shalt sure the ranger be, 

If thou obey command : 
And for the buck thou stoutly brought 

To us up that steep heuca, 
Thy designation ever shall 

Be John Scot in Buckscleuch." 



* Froissart relates, that a knight of the household of the Compte 
de Foix exhibited a similar feat of strength. The hall fire had 
waxed low, and wood was wanted to mend it. The knight went 
down to the court-yard, where stood an ass laden with faggots, 
seized on the animal and his burden, and, carrying him up to the 
hall on his shoulders, tumbled him into the chimney with his heels 
uppermost ; a humane pleasantry, much applauded by the Count 
and all the spectators. 



334 NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH, 



In Scotland no Buckcleuch was then, 
Before the buck in the cleuch was slain ; 
Wight's men t at first they did appear, 
Because moon and stars to their arms they bear. 
Their crest, supporters, and hunting-horn, 
Shews their beginning from hunting come; 
Their name, and stile, the book doth say, 
John gained them both into one day. 

Watt's Bellanden, 



The Buccleuch arms have been altered, and now allude less 
pointedly to this hunting, whether real or fabulous. The fami- 
ly now bear Or upon a bend azure, a mullet betwixt two cre- 
scents of the field ; in addition to which, they formerly bore in 
the field a hunting horn. The supporters, now two ladies, 

t " Minions of the moon," as Falstaff would have said. The 
vocation pursued by our ancient Borderers may be justified on the 
authority of the most polished of the ancient nations : " For the 
Grecians in old time, and such barbarians as in the continent 
lived neere unto the sea, or else inhabited the islands, after once 
they began to crosse over one to another in ships, became theeves, 
and went abroad under the conduct of their more puissant men, 
both to enrich themselves, and to fetch in maintenance for the 
weak; and falling upon towns unfortified, or scatteringly inhabit- 
ed, rifled them, and made this the best means of their living; be- 
ing a matter at that time no where in disgrace, but rather carry- 
ing with it something of glory. This is manifest by some that 
dwell upon the continent, amongst whom, so it be performed no- 
bly, it is still esteemed as an ornament. The same is also proved 



NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. 335 

were formerly a hound and buck, or, according to the old 
terms, a hart of leash and a hart qfgreece. The family of Scott 
of Howpasley and Thirl estaine long retained the bugle-horn : 
they also carried a bent bow and arrow in the sinister cantle, 
perhaps as a difference. It is said the motto was, — Best riding 
by moonlight, in allusion to the crescents on the shield, and 
perhaps to the habits of those who bore it. The motto now 
given is Amo, applying to the female supporters. 

Note XI. 

■■■ old Albert Grame, 



The Minstrel of that ancient name. — P. 185. 
" John Grahame, second son of Malice, Earl of Monteith, 
commonly sirnamed John with the Bright Sword, upon some 
displeasure risen against him at court, retired with many of his 
clan and kindred, into the English Borders, in the reign of 
King Henry the Fourth, where they seated themselves ; and 
many of their posterity have continued there ever since. Mr 



by some of the ancient poets, who introduced men questioning of 
such as sail by, on all coasts alike, whether they be tbeeves or 
not; as a thing neyther scorned by such as were asked, nor up- 
braided by those that were desirous to know. They also robbed 
one another within the main land ; and much of Greece useth 
that old custome, as the Locrians, the Acarnanians, and those of 
the continent in that quarter, unto this day. Moreover, the fashion 
of wearing iron remaineth yet with the people of that continent, 
from their old trade of theeving." — Hobbes' Thucydides, p. 4. 
Lond. 1629. 



336 NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. 

Sandford, speaking of them, says (which indeed was applicable 
to most of the Borderers on both sides,) " They were all stark 
moss-troopers, and arrant thieves : Both to England and Scot- 
land outlawed ; yet sometimes connived at, because they gave 
intelligence forth of Scotland, and would raise 400 horse at any 
time upon a raid of the English into Scotland. A saying is re- 
corded of a mother to her son (which is now become prover- 
bial,) Ride, Rozvley, hough's i* the pot ; that is, the last piece 
of beef was in the pot, and therefore it was high time for him 
to go and fetch more." — Introduction to the History of Cum- 
berland. 

The residence of the Graemes being chiefly in the Debate- 
able Land, so called because it was claimed by both kingdoms, 
their depredations extended both to England and Scotland, 
with impunity ; for as both wardens accounted them the pro- 
per subjects of their own prince, neither inclined to demand 
reparation for their excesses from the opposite officers, which 
would have been an acknowledgment of his jurisdiction over 
them. — See a long correspondence on this subject betwixt 
Lord Dacre and the English Privy Council, in Introduction to 
History of Cumberland. The Debateable Land was finally 
divided betwixt England and Scotland, by commissioners ap- 
pointed by both nations. 



NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. 33? 



Note XII. 
The sun shines fair on Carlisle wall. — P. 186. 
This burden is adopted, with some alteration, from an old 
Scottish song beginning thus : 

She leaned her back against a thorn, 
The sun shines fair on Carlisle wa' ; 

And there she has her young babe born, 
And the lyon shall be lord of a'. 

Note XIII. 
Who has not heard of Surrey's fame ? — P. 188. 

The gallant and unfortunate Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, 
was unquestionably the most accomplished cavalier of his time ; 
and his sonnets display beauties which would do honour to a 
more polished age. He was beheaded on Tower-hill in 1546 ; 
a victim to the mean jealousy of Henry VIII., who could not 
bear so brilliant a character near his throne. 

The song of the supposed bard is founded on an incident 
said to have happened to the earl in his travels. Cornelius 
Agrippa, the celebrated alchemist, showed him, in a looking- 
glass, the lovely Geraldine, to whose service he had devoted 
his pen and his sword. The vision represented her as indis- 
posed, and reclined upon a couch, reading her lover's verses 
by the light of a waxen taper. 

Y 



338 NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH* 



Note XIV, 

— The storm-swept Orcades ; 

Where erst St Clairs held princely szoay f 
O'er isle and islet, strait and bay. — R 19s. 
The St Clairs are of Norman extraction, being descended 
from William de St Clair, second son of Walderne Compte 
de St Clair, and Margaret, daughter to Richard Duke of Nor- 
mandy. He was called, for his fair deportment, the Seemly 
St Clair ; and settling in Scotland during the reign of Malcolm 
Ceanmore, obtained large grants of land in Mid-Lothian.— 
These dpraains were increased by the liberality of succeeding 
monarchs to the descendants of the family, and comprehend- 
ed the baronies of Rosline, Pentland, Cowsland, Cardaine, and 
several others. It is said a large addition was obtained from 
Robert Bruce, on the following occasion ; The king, in follow- 
ing the chase upon Pentland hills, had often started a " white 
faunch deer," which had always escaped from his hounds ; 
and he asked the nobles, who were assembled around him, 
whether any of them had dogs, which they thought might be 
more successful. No courtier would affirm that his hounds 
were fleeter than those of the king, until Sir William St Clair 
of Rosline unceremoniously said, he would wager his head that 
his two favourite dogs, Help and Hold, would kill the deer 
before she could cross the March-burn. The king instantly 
caught at his unwary offer, and betted the forest of Peutland- 
moor against the life of Sir William St Clair. All the hounds 



NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. 339 

were tied up, except a few ratehes, or slow hounds, to put up 
the deer ; while Sir William St Clair, posting himself in the 
best situation for slipping his dogs, prayed devoutly to Christ, 
the blessed Virgin, and St Katherine. The deer was shortly 
after roused, and the hounds slipped ; Sir William following 
on a gallant steed, to cheer his dogs. The hind, however, 
reached the middle of the brook, upon which the hunter 
threw himself from his horse in despair. At this critical mo- 
ment, however, Hold stopped her in the brook ; and Help, co- 
ming up, turned her back, and killed her on Sir William's side. 
The king descended from the hill, embraced Sir William, and 
bestowed on him the lands of Kirkton, Logan-House, Earn- 
craig, &c. in free forestrie. Sir William, in acknowledgment 
of St Katherine's intercession, built the chapel of St Katherine 
in the Hopes, the church-yard of which is still to be seen. The 
hill, from which Robert Bruce beheld this memorable chase, 
is still called the King's Hill ; and the place where Sir William 
hunted is called the Knight's Field.*— MS. History of the Fa* 



* The tomb of Sir William St Clair, on which he appears 
sculptured in armour, with a greyhound at his feet, is still to be 
seen in Roslin chapel. The person who shows it always tells 
the story of his hunting match, with some addition to Mr Hay's 
account ; as that the knight of Roslin's fright made him poeti- 
cal, and that, in the last emergency, he shouted, 



Help, haud, an' ye may, 

Or Roslin will lose his head this day. 



S40 NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. 

mily of St Clair, by Richard Augustin Hay, Canon of St 
Genevieve. 

This adventurous huntsman married Elizabeth, daughter of 
Malice Spar, Earl of Orkney and Stratheme, in whose right 
their son Henry was, in 1379, created Earl of Orkney, by Ha- 
co, king of Norway. His title was recognised by the kings of 
Scotland, and remained with his successors until it was annex- 
ed to the crown, in 1471, by act of parliament. In exchange 
for this earldom, the castle and domains of Ravenscraig, or 
Ravensheuch, were conferred on William Saintclair, Earl of 
Caithness. 

Note XV. 
Still nods their palace to its J lull. 
Thy pride and sorrow, fair Kirkwall. — P. 193. 
The castle of Kirkwall was built by the St Clairs, while 
Earls of Orkney. It was dismantled by the Earl of Caithness 
about 1615, having being garrisoned against the government by 
Robert Stewart, natural son to the Earl of Orkney. 

Its ruins afforded a sad subject of contemplation to John, 
Master of St Clair, who, flying from his native country, on ac- 

If this couplet does him no great honour as a poet, the conclusion 
of the story does him still less credit. He set his foot on the dog, 
says the narrator, and killed him on the spot, saying, he would 
never again put his neck in such a risque. As Mr Hay does not 
mention this circumstance, I hope it is only founded on the cou« 
chant posture of the hound on the monument. 



NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. Ml 

count of his share in the insurrection 1715, made some stay at 
Kirkwall. 

" I had occasion to entertain myself at Kirkwall with the 
melancholie prospect of the ruins of an old castle, the seat of 
the old Earls of Orkney, my ancestors ; and of a more melan- 
choly reflection, of so great and noble an estate as the Orkney 
and Shetland isles being taken from one of them by James the 
Third for faultrie, after his brother Alexander, Duke of Alba- 
ny 9 had married a daughter of my family, and for protecting 
and defending the said Alexander against the king, who wished 
to kill him, as he had done his youngest brother, the Earl of 
Mar; and for which, after the forfaultrie, he gratefully divor- 
ced my forfaulted ancestor's sister ; though I cannot persuade 
myself that he had any misalliance to plead against a familie in 
whose veins the blood of Robert Bruce run as fresh as in his 
own ; for their title to the crowne was by a daughter of David 
Bruce, son to Robert; and our alliance was by marrying a 
grandchild of the same Robert Bruce, and daughter to the sis- 
ter of the same David, out of the familie of Douglass, which at 
that time did not much sullie the blood, more than my ances- 
tor's having not long before had the honour of marrying a 
daughter of the king of Denmark's, who was named Florentine", 
and has left in the town of Kirkwall a noble monument of the 
grandeur of the times, the finest church ever I saw entire in 
Scotland. I then had no small reason to think, in that unhap- 
py state, on the many not inconsiderable services rendered since 
to the royal familie, for these many years by-gone, on all occa- 
3 



343 NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. 

sions, when they stood most in need of friends, which they have 
thought themselves very often obliged to acknowledge by let- 
ters yet extant, and m a stile more like friends than souve- 
raigns ; our attachment to them, without anie other thanks, ha- 
ving brought upon us considerable losses, and among others, 
that of our all in Cromwell's time ; and left in that condition, 
without the least relief except what we found in our own vir- 
tue. My father was the only man of the Scots nation who had 
Courage enough to protest in parliament against King William's 
title to the throne, which was lost, God knows how : and this 
at a time when the losses in the cause of the royall familie,and 
their usual gratitude* had scarce left him bread to maintain a 
numerous familie of eleven children, who had soon after sprung 
up on him, in spite of all which, he had honourably persisted 
in his principle. I say, these things considered, and after being 
treated as I was, and in that unluckie state, when objects ap« 
pear to men in their true light, as at the hour of death, could I 
be blamed for making some bitter reflections to myself, and 
laughing at the extravagance and unaccountable numour of 
men, and the singularitie of my own case (an exile for the cause 
of the Stuart family,) when I ought to have known, that the 
greatest crime I, or my family, could have committed, was per- 
severing, to my own destruction, in serving the royal family 
faithfully, though obstinately, after so great a share of depres- 
sion, and after they had been pleased to doom me and my fa*, 
milie to starve." — MS. Memoirs of John, Master of St Clair, 



NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. 343 



Note XVIc 

Kings of the main their leaders brave. 
Their barks the dragons of the wave. — P. 194". 
^fhe chiefs of the Vakingr, or Scandinavian pirates, assumed 
the title of Soehonungr, or Sea-kings. Ships, in the inflated: 
language of the Scalds, are often termed the serpents of the 
the Ocean, 

Note XVII. 
Of that Sea-Snake, tremendous curled, 
Whose monstrous circle girds the world. — P. 194. 
The j or mungandr, or Snake of the Ocean, whose folds sur- 
round the earth, is one of the wildest fictions of the Edda. It 
was very nearly caught by tire god Thor, who went to fish for 
it with a hook baited with a bull's head. In the battle betwixt 
the evil demons and the divinities of Odin, which is to precede 
the Ragnarockr, or Twilight of the Gods, this Snake is to act 
a conspicuous part. 

Note XVIII. 

Of those dread Maids, whose hideous yell 
Maddens the battle's bloody swell. — P. 195. 
These were the Valkyriur, or Selectors of the Slain, dis- 
patched by Odin from Valhalla, to choose those who were to 
die, and to distribute the contest. They are well known to the 
English reader, as Gray's Fatal Sisters, 



544. NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. 



Note XIX. 

Ransacked the graves of warriors old, 

Their faulchions wrenched from corpses 1 hold. — P. 195. 
The northern warriors were usually entombed with their 
arms, and their other treasures. Thus, Angantyr, before com- 
mencing the duel in which he was slain, stipulated, that if he 
fell, his sword Tyrfing should be buried with him. His daugh- 
ter, Hervor, afterwards took it from his tomb. The dialogue 
which past betwixt her and Angantyf's spirit on this occasion 
has been often translated. The whole history may be found in 
the Hervarar-Saga. Indeed the ghosts of the northern warriors 
were not wont tamely to suffer their tombs to be plundered j 
and hence the mortal heroes had an additional temptation to 
attempt such adventures; for they held nothing more worthy 
of their valour than to encounter supernatural beings. — Bar- 
THOLINUS De causis contempts a Danis mortis, lib. I. cap. % 
9, 10, 13. 

Note XX. 
Rosahelle. — P. 195. 



This was a family name in the house of St Clair. Henry St 
Clair, the second of the line, married Rosabelle, fourth daugh- 
ter of the Earl of Stratherne. 



NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. 34S 



Note XXI. 
Castle Ravensheuch. — P. 195. 
A large and strong castle, now ruinous, situated betwixt 
Kirkaldy and Dysart, on a steep crag, washed by the Firth of 
Forth. It was conferred on Sir William St Clair, as a slight 
compensation for the earldom of Orkney, by a charter of King 
James III. dated in 1471, and is now the property of Sir 
James St Clair Erskine, (now Earl of Rosslyn,) representative 
of the family. It was long a principal residence of the Barons 
of Roslin. 

Note XXII. 
Seemed all on fire that chapel proud, 

Where Roslin' s chiefs uncqffined lie ; 
Each Baron, for a sable shroud, 

Sheathed in his iron panoply. — P. 19S. 
The beautiful chapel of Roslin is still in tolerable preserva- 
tion. It was founded in 1446 by William St Clair, Prince of 
Orkney, Duke of Oldenbourgh, Earl of Cathness and Strath- 
erne, Lord Saint Clair, Lord Niddesdale, Lord Admiral of the 
Scottish seas, Lor i Chief Justice of Scotland, Lord Warden 
of the three Marches, Baron of Roslin, Pentland, Pentland- 
moor, &c., Knight of the Cockle and of the Garter, (as is af- 
firmed,) High Chancellor, Chamberlain, and Lieutenant of Scot- 
land. This lofty person, whose titles, says Godscroft, might 
weary a Spaniard, built the castle of Roslin, where he resided 



346 NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. 

in princely splendour, and founded the chapel, which is in the 
most rich and florid style of Gothic architecture. Among the 
profuse carving on the pillars and buttresses, the rose is fre- 
quently introduced, in allusion to the name, with which, how- 
ever, the flower has no connection ; the etymology being Ross- 
linnhe, the promontory of the linn, or water-fall. The chapel 
is said to appear on fire previous to the death of any of his de- 
scendants. This superstition, noticed by Slezer' in his Thea- 
trum Scotia, and alluded to in the text, is probably of Norwe- 
gian derivation, and may have been imported by the Earls of 
Orkney into their Lothian domains. The tomb-fires of the 
north are mentioned in most of the Sagas. 

The Barons of Roslin were buried in a vault beneath the cha- 
pel floor. The manner of their interment is thus described by 
Father Hay, in the MS. history already quoted. 

" Sir William Sinclair, the father, was a lend man. He 
kept a miller's daughter, with whom, it is alledged, he went to 
Ireland ; yet I think the cause of his retreat was rather occa- 
sioned by the Presbyterians, who vexed him sadly, because of 
his religion being Roman Catholic. His son, Sir William, died 
during the troubles, and was interred in the chapel of Roslin 
the very same day that the battle of Dunbar was fought. 
When my good-father was buried, his (i. e. Sir William's) 
corpse seemed to be entire at the opening of the cave ; but 
when they came to touch his body, it fell into dust. He was 
laying in his armour, with a red velvet cap on his head, on a 
flat stone ; nothing was spoiled except a piece of the white 



NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. S47 

furring, that went round the cap, and answered to the hinder 
part of the head. All his predecessors were buried after the 
same manner, in their armour : late Rosline, my good-father, 
was the first that was buried in a coffin, against the sentiments 
of King James the Seventh, who was then in Scotland, and se- 
veral other persons well versed in antiquity, to whom my mo- 
ther would not hearken, thinking it beggarly to be buried after 
that manner. The great expences she was at in burying her 
husband, occasioned the sumptuary acts which were made in 
the following parliament." 

Note XXIII. 

" Gi/lbin, come/"— P. 204. 

See the story of Gilpin Horner, pp. 265, V66, 26f. 

Note XXIV. 
JFV he was speechless, ghastly, wan$ 
Like him, of whom the story ran, 
Who spoke the spectre-hound in Man. — P. 201. 
The ancient castle of Peel-town, in the Isle of Man, is sur- 
rounded by four churches, now ruinous. Through one of these 
chapels there was formerly a passage from the guard-room of 
the garrison. This was closed, it is said, upon the following 
occasion : " They say, that an apparition, called, in the Mank- 
ish language, the Mauthe Doog, in the shape of a large black 
spaniel, with curled shaggy hair, was used to haunt Peel-castle ; 
and has been frequently seen in every room, but particularly in 



348 NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH, 

the guard* chamber, where, as soon as candles were lighted, it 
came and lay down before the fire, in presence of all the sol- 
diers, who, at length, by being so much accustomed to the sight 
of it, lost great part of the terror they were seized with at its 
first appearance. They still, however, retained a certain awe, 
as believing it was an evil spirit, which only waited permis- 
sion to do them hurt ; and, for that reason, forebore swearing, 
and all prophane discourse, while in its company. But though 
they endured the shock of such a guest when altogether in a 
body, none cared to be left alone with it. It being the custom, 
therefore, for one of the soldiers to lock the gates of the castle 
at a certain hour, and carry the keys to the captain, to whose 
apartment, as I said before, the way led through the church, 
they agreed among themselves, that whoever was to succeed 
the ensuing night his fellow in this errand, should accompany 
him that went first, and by this means no man would be expo- 
sed singly to the danger : for I forgot to mention, that the 
Mauthe Doog was always seen to come out from that passage 
at the close of day, and return to it again as soon as the morn- 
ing dawned ; which made them look on this place as its pecu- 
liar residence. 

" One night, a fellow being drunk, and by the strength of his 
liquor rendered more daring than ordinarily, laughed at the sim- 
plicity of his companions ; and, though it was not his turn to go 
with the keys, would needs take that office upon him, to testi- 
fy his courage. All the soldiers endeavoured to dissuade him; 
but the more they said, the more resolute he seemed, and 



NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. 349 

swore that he desired nothing more than that the Mauthe 
Doug would follow him, as it had done the others; for he 
would try if it were dog or devil. After having talked in a very 
reprobate manner for some time, he snatched up the keys, and 
went out of the guard-room : in some time after his departure, 
a great noise was heard, but nobody had the boldness to see 
what occasioned it, till, the adventurer returning, they demand- 
ed the knowledge of him ; but as loud and noisy as he had been 
at leaving them, he was now become sober and silent enough ; 
for he was never heard to speak more : and though ail the time 
he lived, which was three days, he was entreated by all who 
came near him, either to speak, or, if he could not do that, to 
make some signs, by which they might understand what had 
happened to him ; yet nothing intelligible could be got from 
him, only that, by the distortion of his limbs and features, it 
might be guessed that he died in agonies more than is common 
in a natural death. 

* The Mauthe Doog was, however, never after seen in the 
castle, nor would any one attempt to go through that passage ; 
for which reason it was closed up, and another way made. 
This accident happened about threescore years since : and I 
heard it attested by several, but especially by an old soldier, 
who assured me he had seen it oftener than he had then hairs 
on his head."— Waldron's Description of the Isle of Man, 
p. 107. 



550 NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. 



Note XXV. 
And he a solemn sacred plight 
Did to St Bryde of Boughs make. — P. 202. 
This was a favourite saint of the house of Douglas, and of 
the Earl of Angus in particular ; as we learn from the follow- 
ing passage : the Queen-regent had proposed to raise a rival 
noble to the ducal dignity ; and discoursing of her purpose 
with Angus, he answered, " Why not, madam ? we are happy 
that have such a princess, that can know and will acknowledge 
men's service, and is willing to recompence it : but, by the 
might of God, (this was his oath when he was serious and in 
anger ; at other times, it was by St Bride of Douglas,) if he be 
a Duke, I will be a Drake !" — So she desisted from prosecuting 
of that purpose. — Godscroet, vol. II. p. 191. 



THE END. 



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